The art of looking closely
Looking past the strictures of genre to judge a work on its own merits can yield great rewards, as an exhibition of Michaelina Wautier’s work attests
Looking past the strictures of genre to judge a work on its own merits can yield great rewards, as an exhibition of Michaelina Wautier’s work attests
Established in 1852 by three brothers, the Alinari firm produced many of the oldest photographs of Italy and have left behind a vast archive in Florence
The twists and turns of the artist’s career make for a thrilling display at Tate Modern
With reports that the great footballer-turned-manager is set to take over the French national team after the World Cup, Rakewell considers him as a work of art
From migrant journeys to gay rights in Kenya, the painter packs the vitality and violence of the world into his work
Plus: Russia has bombed a 17th-century monastery in Lviv, and Pat Steir has died at the age of 87
The Royal Academy’s retrospective presents a painter who takes delight in simple pleasures and is always determined to be herself
Old Master drawings form the backbone of the Paris fair, but there are lively works on paper by modern and contemporary artists, too
This week we look at four artworks from around the world that explore the act of theft – or have been spirited away themselves
Dorich House, the home and studio of the sculptor Dora Gordine, is a reminder of when Britain played host to the avant-garde
Three Donatello fragments, a portrait by Rembrandt’s star pupil and a sculpture of a well-travelled elephant were among this year’s highlights
The Bank of England’s announcement that nature will be the theme of the next set of bank notes has led to some wild-eyed responses
The painter was one of the most successful portraitists in Europe and should be regarded as the father of the English school of painting. So why has his reputation suffered over the years?
From Charlton Heston writhing on a scaffold in the Sistine Chapel to Kirk Douglas’s dead ringer for Van Gogh, films about painters were prestige studio fare
At Loewe’s Fall/Winter 2026 show, a soft-toy menagerie by the German artist Cosima von Bonin added a playful touch
Sales at Sotheby’s and Christie’s rebounded impressively, even as the situation in the Middle East worsened
Working together for more than 30 years, this quartet of artists’ idea of a studio is an experimental as their art
Modernists regarded the Scandinavian style as a mere throwback, but it was much more radical than it was given credit for
Hettie Judah is captivated by the photographer’s seriously thoughtful approach to adolescence
The largest amount of wealth ever passed down from one generation to the next is about to change hands. What risks does this pose for the art market?