1.
GV NATIONAL GALLERY
0.04

2.
CU COPY OF CARTOON
0.10

3.
LV DRAPED FRAME FROM WHICH CARTOON HAS BEEN REMOVED.
0.14

4.
SCU PAN..VISITORS TO GALLERY
0.13

5.
SV MR. G. FOX (STAFF SUPERINTENDENT) EXAMINEES BROKEN COVER.
0.22

6.
CU SMASHED COVER
0.25

7.
SV MR. FOX POINTS TO SMASHED SECTION.
0.28



Initials KB/V/WS/EEH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A MAN WALKED INTO THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON, ON JUNE 27TH, EDGED HIS WAY THROUGH A CROWD OF 80 PEOPLE STUDYING THE DA VINCI CARTOON, AND HURLED A BOTTLE OF INK AT THE WORK.

THE BOTTLE DID NOT BEAK BUT SMASHED A GLASS SHOWCASE AND BOUNCED BACK FROM A PLASTIC COVER, ALMOST AN INCH THICK, WHICH HAD BEEN SUBSTITUTED FOR GLASS BEFORE THE CARTON WAS OUT ON EXHIBITION. ALARMS SOUNDED, THE GALLERY WAS CLOSED AUTOMATICALLY, AND A MAN WAS ARRESTED.

A SCRATCH ABOUT THREE INCHES LONG WAS LATER FOUND ON THE LOWER PART OF THE CARTOON AND IT WAS WITHDRAWN. DAMAGE WAS DESCRIBED BY GALLERY OFFICIALS AS BEING "OF NEGLIGIBLE SIGNIFICANCE." THE CARTOON WILL NOT BE PUT BACK ON EXHIBITION UNTIL A NEW SHIELD HAS BEEN INSTALLED.

AN APPEAL IS AT PRESENT BEING CONDUCTED BY THE GALLERY TO RAISE GBP800,000 TO SAVE THE CARTOON-THE VIRGIN AND CHILD WITH ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST AND ST. ANNE - FROM BEING PUT UP FOR AUCTION. IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN EXECUTED BY LEONARDO DA VINCI IN 1498.