Climate activists who taped themselves to the frame of a Rubens painting in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich in August face a trial from February 14. This was announced by a spokesman for the district court in Munich on Monday. On August 28, 2022, two activists from the Last Generation movement taped themselves to the frame of the 17th-century painting 'The Massacre of the Innocents' by Peter Paul Rubens.

According to the museum, employees of the museum and police officers then had to separate the two men from the historical frame with solvents, which, however, was damaged. The museum also announced that there was damage to the wall covering.

Appeal against penal orders

Because the activists have appealed against penal orders imposed by the court, the trial is now taking place. According to the Munich I public prosecutor's office, a five-digit amount of damage was caused at the time, which is why "a significant fine was imposed" in the penal orders. But it could also be expensive regardless of that: "We will of course assert our claims under civil law," said Tine Nehler, spokeswoman for the Pinakotheken when the penal orders became known last year.

"It is not legitimate to damage unique cultural evidence of humanity in order to draw attention to the actual climatic problems," said Bernhard Maaz, Director General of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, after the action. "A painting like "The Massacre of the Innocents" and the historical gilded frame are of inestimable cultural-historical value".

Climate activists are currently making headlines with adhesive campaigns or attacks on works of art.