The two Food Riposte activists, who had sprinkled soup on the board Spring by Claude Monet, were back in court on Tuesday. After the acquittal pronounced at first instance, the prosecution requested a fine.
Relaxed last June, the two activists from Riposte Alimentaire, who had sprayed the painting with water Spring by Claude Monet at the Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon last February, appeared again before the Lyon Court of Appeal on Tuesday. A new hearing during which the public prosecutor demanded a fine of 2000 euros against the two young girls, aged 20 and 23 respectively.
At first instance, the prosecution had requested a two-month suspended sentence, when the maximum penalty for this type of offense can be increased to 10 years in prison, thus denouncing an action “blind, immature and inconsiderate”. It is the same prosecutor's office which appealed the decision rendered at first instance.
Decision early 2025
On May 21, the two lawyers for the two activists pleaded for acquittal, ensuring that the choice of the painting had been deliberate, it being the only one protected by glass in the room. “They targeted this painting to say: 'This will be our last spring if we don't act. If we don't act, painters will have nothing left to paint.” declared one of their counsel, Maître Griottier. The decision was reserved until January 14, 2025.
