In 1968, Vermeer's painting *Young Woman Seated at a Virginal* (1670-72) was vandalized at the National Gallery in London. An unidentified attacker used a sharp instrument, likely a razor blade, to cut around the woman's head, attempting to remove it entirely. The damage was discovered hours later by a visitor, and the painting was swiftly restored; previously unreleased photographs of the attack have now been supplied to The Art Newspaper. The vandal was never caught, and their motivation remains unknown.
This story matters because it reveals a near-catastrophic loss to Vermeer's already small surviving oeuvre—had the head been removed, the painting might have been permanently taken off display. The incident also highlights historical security lapses at major museums, including limited visibility for attendants and the absence of CCTV. The decision by trustees, including artist Andrew Forge and sculptor Henry Moore, to suppress photographs of the damage raises ongoing questions about transparency and the public's right to know about threats to cultural heritage.