Staff and gallery-goers rushed to detail the man, who was restrained until members of the police arrived at the scene in Room 34 on the second floor of the museum.

Keith Gregory, 63, of no fixed abode, was charged on suspicion of causing criminal damage to a valuable painting on Sunday.

However, the masterpiece, which was acquired for the nation from Lord Rothschild in 1954, has now been removed from display while conservation experts assess the damage, after it suffered two long gouges which penetrated the paintwork during the afternoon assault.