CNN reports that on Friday 14 October 2022, the two young women from the campaign group, Just Stop Oil, threw the contents of two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the painting, which, the group said, has an estimated value of $84.2 million (more than R1.5 billion).

They then glued themselves to the wall beneath the painting at the National Gallery.

Activists with @JustStop_Oil have thrown tomato soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the national Gallery and glued themselves to the wall. pic.twitter.com/M8YP1LPTOU

— Damien Gayle (@damiengayle) October 14, 2022

In a statement posted on Twitter Friday, the gallery confirmed the incident in Room 43, where "Sunflowers" was displayed, and gave an update on its condition.

"There is some minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed," it said.

In a subsequent tweet, the gallery explained that the painting was glazed and therefore protected.

CNN further reports that a third associate was also charged over a separate attack on the iconic "New Scotland Yard" sign that stands outside London's main police headquarters.

The three people are all associated with Just Stop Oil, which represents a coalition of groups working together to stop the UK government from committing to new licenses concerning the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels.

A total of 28 arrests were made in relation to protests in central London on Friday.

Friday's incident is the latest in a series of protests targeting famous works of art in a bid to draw attention to the role of fossil fuels in climate change.

In July, members of Just Stop Oil glued themselves to a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" at the Royal Academy of Art in London.

CNN