Banksy and Poussin's Work Painted Over

Gorilla in a Pink Mask - Banksy
Photograph - Daily Mail


July has seen two pieces of art damaged, both in very different circumstances. The Banksy above was one victim, while Poussin's painting was defaced on the other side of the country.

Saeed Ahmed whitewashed the wall that featured Banksy's "Gorilla in a Pink Mask", while a man spray painted onto "The Adoration of the Golden Calf" by Nicolas Poussin. The result of Ahmed's DIY is below.


Whitewashed Wall - Saeed Ahmed
Photograph - Daily Mail


While Poussin's painting and its current state are here.


The Adoration of the Golden Calf - Nicolas Poussin
Photograph - The Guardian



Spray Paint - Vandal
Photograph - The Guardian


What struck me by these two parallel incidents is the similarity of the response by the art world. Yet Banksy's piece was created from the same media used to damage Poussin's, and in a similar manner, while Ahmed has probably painted over other graffiti as a means to tidy up inner city buildings.

Reactions to both acts has naturally been vehement, especially considering the cost of repair, but neither artist will pass comment due to anonymity and death. Banksy leaves his work to cope with the rigours of the British weather and populace intentionally, and surely decorating by someone unaware of his work falls into this category. I doubt he would approve of a work of art like Poussin's being damaged, but may appreciate the irony.

As long as we want to make art available to all to enjoy, we need to expect very sad damage like this. Either that or become ever more precious and prohibitive, and take them ever further from the public eye.