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We now know where all the UK’s public sculptures are – but are they any good?
Art UK’s new catalogue allows us to assess the artistic merits of the nation’s monuments – and to mourn a lost memorial to Percy Bysshe Shelley
An everyday luxury – the artists finding beauty in banality
Artists have long found beauty in the mundane, but choosing to represent everyday subject matter is a privilege that requires the luxury of time
‘The meekest person can manipulate’ – a tribute to Paula Rego (1935–2022)
The Portuguese-British painter told stories of parental abandonment, misogyny and exile with a power that put her in a class of her own
Why did Renaissance artists steal each other’s drawings?
The monetary value of preparatory studies was slight in the Renaissance – but for the ideas they contained, they were worth their weight in gold
Child’s play – why artists are looking to childhood for inspiration
Artists have long embraced playful behaviour – not just as a form of creative release, but also as a way of dealing with conflict and taboo
The historic estate that’s next on the demolition list
The grounds of the Shortgrove estate in Newport, Essex, have long been lovingly preserved, but a new development now threatens its future
All photographs are products of their time – and they should be treated that way
Turning black and white photos into colour – and vice versa – can be a harmless piece of fun, but the results can also mess with our sense of the past
Risky business – why is New York getting rid of auction regulations?
The city claims that its decision to loosen the rules governing art auctions seeks to create a more consumer-friendly environment – but how can it?
The rise and fall of Chesterfield House
Once one of London’s most impressive private palaces, the house successfully melded a mix of architectural styles but this wasn’t enough to save it from its fate
Are frictions in Nigeria jeopardising the return of the Benin Bronzes?
With cracks appearing in the relationships of institutions in Nigeria, Barnaby Phillips wonders where the returned Benin Bronzes are going to end up
Why aren’t more women artists gazing at men?
There is no great tradition of male nudes by women artists, but this underlines an asymmetry of power rather than a lack of female desire
Is Tottenham Hotspur still clinging to the past?
Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium has just celebrated its third birthday but despite its shiny facade, the club still projects a message of continuity and tradition
Why was the Aztec god of war so keen on starfish?
The discovery of a ritual offering of 160 starfish and a jaguar skeleton to the Aztec god of war has got archaeologists excited to uncover its meaning
Philip Hewat-Jaboor was a champion of the decorative arts and generous mentor to many
Wolf Burchard pays tribute to the expertise and open-mindedness of the chairman of Masterpiece who was a pillar of the world of decorative arts
Is the art world’s talk of going green just a load of hot air?
Museums and galleries are keener than ever to display their environmental credentials – but words and deeds don’t always seem to match up
Has art writing made us forget how to think visually?
Lengthy exhibition texts, catalogues and essays are everywhere nowadays – but do they help us to see the art for what it really is?
Walter Sickert may have tackled some taboos – but that doesn’t make him a serial killer
Modern critics (and conspiracy theorists) have focused on the painter’s decadent side, but his subjects reflect the society of his day
Is Los Angeles being spoiled for artists?
As the city ‘arrives’ as a global art capital, how do the artists and curators who have been there for decades feel about the hype?
Hands off the best Herzog & de Meuron building in London
The Laban Dance Centre is being encroached upon by unsightly developments and it needs to be protected now
How to make a queer museum
The charity Queer Britain is opening the country’s first space dedicated to LGBTQ+ culture, but will its programme entertain as well as educate?
The vivacity of Van Dyck’s portraits
Combining subtlety with swagger, Van Dyck’s portraits of courtiers offer a mischievous rival to the official written histories of his day
The well-to-do Britons who wanted to keep up with the Romans
The largest mosaic found in London in half a century offers a welcome glimpse into the home-decorating choices of aspirational Britons
The deep humanity of Shirley Hughes animates every page of her work
The author of beloved books such as the ‘Alfie’ series and ‘Dogger’ simply knew how children look and act
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Putting a name to one of Glyn Philpot’s most mysterious faces
Who is the subject of the painter’s cryptically titled ‘Madame C d’A’? Tessa Murdoch looks for clues among his most progressive patrons