The trial of a Dublin man accused of putting his fist through a Claude Monet painting at the National Gallery has ended with the jury in deadlock.
Andrew Shannon (48) defended a charge of criminal damage by claiming his serious heart condition caused him to “collapse” against the art work on June 29th, 2012.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard he had a quadruple bypass a year after the incident.
Experts working to repair the rip in the 1874 impressionist masterpiece, valued at 10 million euro, hope they will have completed the restoration by next Spring.
The prosecution claimed the damage to MonetÂ’s Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat was caused by a deliberate act of vandalism.
One eyewitness, visiting the National Gallery on holiday from New Zealand, gave evidence Andrew ShannonÂ’s fist was like a hammer as it struck the painting.
But the defence argued the former French polisher felt faint and collapsed on the art work.
After nearly 9 hours of deliberations spread over 3 days, the juryÂ’s deliberations ended this afternoon in disagreement.
‘These things happen’ said Judge Des Hogan as he discharged the 11 jurors.
He has remanded Andrew Shannon of Willans Way, Ongar, in custody until tomorrow when the 48 year old will apply for bail.
He has been in custody for the past 18 months while awaiting trial.
In response to today's outcome, the National Gallery of Ireland says it is disappointed that there has been no clarity to any of the involved parties, but says it accepts due process of the law.
Sean Rainbird, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland said "I would like to praise the staff of the National Gallery for their prompt response to the incident at the time and all our colleagues in the emergency services. In particular, I would like to thank the staff involved for participating and relating to the court as citizens, as much as Gallery employees".
He added that the Conservation Department of the Gallery has undertaken a very complex project to mend and restore the painting.
Note on the Painting
- Claude Monet (1840 – 1926)
- ‘Argenteuil Basin with a single Sailboat’, 1874
- Oil on canvas (55 x 65cm)
- Signed: lower right: Claude Monet
- Bequeathed, Edward Martyn Bequest, 1924
- Collection: National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
During the Franco-Prussian War Monet was in London, and upon his return in 1871 he moved with his family to Argenteuil. A picturesque, historic town and a developing suburb, Argenteuil was just 15 minutes from Paris by train, and in the second half of the nineteenth century was unrivalled for Sunday trips and pleasure boating. Over the following years Sisley, Renoir, and Pissarro joined Monet to paint in the region of Argenteuil and the surrounding villages. As the once rural areas became increasingly accessible by rail, they became popular weekend retreats for Parisians. These young artists, dedicated to painting contemporary urban bourgeois life, were attracted by this blend of traditional landscape and modernity. Monet acquired a boat, which he turned into a floating studio, and the River Seine and its sailing boats became the principal theme of his paintings. In this picture, the town of Argenteuil can only be glimpsed on the horizon. Light and its effect on the water's surface - captured by distinct, bold brush strokes - is the true subject matter of the painting.
