£10million National Gallery painting seen in James Bond movie Skyfall slashed by maniac who claimed he had bomb
Parts of London tourist attraction had to be evacuated after the attack, in which a man scraped layers of paint off the priceless masterpiece with a screwdriver
A £10MILLION painting seen in James Bond film Skyfall has been damaged when a man barged into one of the world's most famous galleries and began vandalised the artwork.
Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Morning Walk” was attacked by a man who allegedly claimed he had a bomb.
'The Morning Walk', a 1785 painting by Thomas Gainsborough, suffered two long scratches that penetrated the paint layers after a visitor attacked the canvas with a screwdriver.
Gallery assistants quickly rushed to detain the man, with members of the public helping to restrain him.
The East Wing of the National Gallery had to be evacuated and was closed for two hours after the incident on Saturday, while the masterpiece was removed.
One witness wrote on social media: “A man, surrounded by about 6-8 staff, was quickly taken past us.
“According to two people, including one of the staff, the perpetrator had claimed he had a bomb.”
The painting, also known as Mr & Mrs Hallett, is in the background in Skyfall as Daniel Craig as 007 meets new Q (Ben Whishaw).
It features squire William Hallett and Elizabeth Stephen, both 21, shortly before their marriage.
Gainsborough art expert Hugh Belsey told The Sun: “It is one of his most iconic and symbolic works — easily worth at least £10million.”
A Metropolitan police spokesman said: 'Police were called at approximately 14.10 hours on Saturday, 18 March to reports of a painting damaged at the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square.
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'A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. He was taken to a central London police station where he remains in custody.'
Police say Keith Gregory, 63, of no fixed address, was later charged with causing criminal damage.
He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court tomorrow.
Neighbours of his old home near Kettering, Northants, where he lived with his wife, said he was reported missing.
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