Printed Ephemera — 1913
Photograph of Suffragette Mary Richardson
On 4th March 1914 Mary Richardson entered the National Gallery and used a small chopping knife which she had concealed to slash a painting by Velázquez known as the Rokeby Venus. This act was part of a nationwide campaign in which the suffragettes took part to highlight their cause. The painting was slashed 8 times causing considerable damage. Miss Richardson issued a statement which explained why she had attacked the painting, it said “I have tried to destroy the picture of the most beautiful woman in mythological history as a protest against the Government for destroying Mrs Pankhurst who is the most beautiful character in modern history”.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- 53.140/35
- Object name:
- Photograph of Suffragette Mary Richardson
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- 1913
- Material:
photographic gelatin
- Measurements/duration:
- H 95 mm, W 38 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.