Friday

Hammer Attack On Art

The Scotsman reports that painting worth £1.7 million by the British artist Sir Joshua Reynolds has been damaged by a hammer-wielding vandal at the National Portrait Art Gallery in London. The portrait of Samuel Johnson had been on display behind glass in the top-floor public area. In the attack, which took place shortly after 5pm on Wednesday, it was smashed with a hammer which tore the canvas. The 35-year-old vandal was held by security guards at the scene. A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: "Police were alerted to a man detained by security staff at the National Portrait Art Gallery. Officers attended and a man was arrested for criminal damage. He is in custody at Charing Cross police station. Reynolds specialised in portraits and is widely considered the most important and influential of 18th-century English painters. He was also a founder member and first president of the Royal Academy of Art. (For full source and full article click the Headline). Irish Art