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Climate activists in front of the Van Gogh factory in Rome
Photo: ANSA/EPA
Environmental activists poured pea soup on a painting by the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh in Rome, Italy.
The incident happened on Friday morning at the Palazzo Bonaparte in the heart of the city, according to the Ansa news agency.
A spokesman for the Italian branch of the group "Last Generation" ("Ultima Generazione") confirmed the action to the German Press Agency.
An exhibition of Van Gogh works is currently running in the museum.
According to media reports, the painting »The Sower« (1888), which shows a man in a field at sunset, was protected by a pane of glass.
The work is on loan from the Dutch Kröller-Müller Museum.
"As important as the climate message is, art is defenseless," the museum writes on its website.
Reject actions that can lead to damage, regardless of the purpose.
According to »Ultima Generazione«, four activists were involved in the campaign.
Museum security guards then cleared the room and took those involved for questioning, it said.
Sit-in protest in Rome
Environmental activists are also causing a stir in Italy with actions in front of works of art or with road blockades.
Members of the »Ultima Generazione« repeatedly obstructed traffic on Friday and before.
On Wednesday they blocked part of the important ring road around Rome with a sit-in protest.
In the past, they also taped their hands to paintings.
The activists want to draw attention to the consequences of climate change and demand that energy production from fossil fuels such as oil or coal be stopped.
In recent weeks, climate activists around the world have repeatedly poured food on famous paintings, such as tomato soup on a Van Gogh painting in London and mashed potatoes on a Monet work in Potsdam.
swe/dpa