Politicians have condemned a “moronic act of vandalism” after pro-Palestine activists damaged a portrait of Lord Balfour.
Palestine Action shared a video on social media of a demonstrator defacing and slashing the historic painting, which hangs at the University of Cambridge’s Trinity College.
In the clip, a woman can be seen spraying red paint before using a sharp object to slice open the canvas.
Lord Arthur James Balfour was a Conservative prime minister between 1902 and 1905. He later became the foreign secretary, when he signed the Balfour Declaration in 1917.
The declaration was a public statement issued by the British government which viewed “with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”.
The letter is blamed by some for launching the process that ended up with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestine Action said the declaration “paved the way for ethnic cleansing” of people in Palestine.
Pointing to the ongoing war in Gaza, the protest group claimed Britain’s support “for the continued colonisation of Palestine hasn’t wavered since 1917”.
The painting of Lord Balfour was by artist Philip Alexius de Laszlo and was completed in 1914.
A protest targeting a painting of Lord Arthur James Balfour, the former prime minister and foreign secretary, at Trinty College, Cambridge. Pic: Palestine Action
Politicians were quick to condemn the stunt.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said he was “appalled by the moronic act of wanton vandalism”.
“Perpetrators should face the full force of the law,” he added in a post on X.
Lord Walney, the government’s adviser on political violence and disruption, said: “This is outrageous. We must not tolerate protesters thinking they can get away with senseless damage because they think the importance of the cause gives them the moral high ground to cause mayhem.”
A spokesperson for Cambridge Police said: “This afternoon we received an online report of criminal damage today to a painting at Trinity College, Cambridge.
“Officers are attending the scene to secure evidence and progress the investigation.
“No arrests have been made at this stage.”
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Trinity College said in its own statement that it “regrets the damage caused to a portrait of Arthur James Balfour during public opening hours”.
The College added: “The police have been informed.
“Support is available for any member of the College community affected.”
It is important to remember that the painting in question was criticized when it was first unveiled. However, it has since become an important part of our collective history and deserves to be protected as such.
The painting in question was commissioned during the former PM’s term in office. It is a valuable piece of art that reflects the political and cultural landscape of the time.
I suppose the protesters thought they were painting a masterpiece of their own, but all they created was a moronic stain on a historic artwork.
Oh, the perpetrators were just expressing their ‘artistic freedom,’ I suppose. It’s not like they vandalized a piece of our shared cultural heritage or anything.
Well, at least the protesters gave the painting a new coat of… activism. I guess you could say it’s a Banksy in the making.
The protesters argue that the former PM’s policies were harmful to the Palestinian cause. However, it is important to remember that art should not be censored for political reasons.
I wonder if the protesters would have vandalized the painting if it had depicted a pro-Palestinian figure. Or is their outrage selective?
It is deeply saddening to see such a blatant act of disrespect towards a former Prime Minister. This painting holds historical significance and should be treated with utmost care.
Oh, the irony! Protestors claiming to champion justice resorting to vandalism. How very civilized.
This act of vandalism has sparked a discussion about the role of art in society. It raises the question of whether art should be immune from political critique or whether it is fair game for those who disagree with its message.
While I understand the frustration of the protesters, vandalism is not the answer. This painting is a symbol of our shared history and should not be subjected to such destructive behavior.
This incident highlights the complex relationship between art and politics. It is a reminder that art can be a powerful tool for both inspiration and provocation.
Next time the pro-Palestine protesters want to make a statement, perhaps they should try painting with washable crayons instead of vandalizing priceless art.