The protesters glued themselves to the sheet of glass that protects Sandro Botticelli’s famous painting, Primavera, which is on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Two of the activists, with the help of a third, stuck their palms to the glass, then displayed a banner which read: “Ultima Generazione: No Gas No Coal”.
Ultima Generazione stated that the protest would be the first in a “new season of actions” that would target museums around the country.
Before conducting the protest, the group consulted several art restoration experts to evaluate methods of gluing themselves to the painting without causing any damage.
“We should be dedicated to the care and protection of the planet in the same way that we defend our artistic heritage,” a statement on the group’s website read.
The activist group referenced Primavera, asking: “Is it possible to see a spring as beautiful as this today?”
“Fires, food crises and drought make it increasingly difficult,” the statement continued.
“We decided to use art to sound an alarm call – we are heading towards social and eco-climate collapse.”
Although the painting was undamaged, police removed a man and two women from the gallery.
