The Week’s Muse: 25 October

A round-up of recent news and comment from the Muse Room

The Apollo Podcast Film Special

In our latest podcast, Mike Leigh joins Thomas Marks to talk about Mr. Turner, his much-anticipated biopic of the artist. Dorothy Atkinson and Marion Bailey discuss their roles and working with Timothy Spall.

Two hundred years in the Hotel de Charost

What links Napoleon’s sister, the British government, and the creator of the first pornographic film? Tim Knox tells the story of how he came to know the splendid Ambassador’s residence in Paris.

Spain in County Durham

County Durham boasts some exceptional collections of Spanish art. How did it all get there? We spoke to Chris Ferguson about this week’s major symposium (co-hosted by Auckland Castle, the Bowes Museum, and Durham University), which concludes today.

The contemporary art crowd lands in Paris

As London recovers from Frieze week, the art world’s attention has turned to Paris, whose major contemporary art fair, FIAC, opens this week, along with some significant (and controversial) satellite events: Caroline Rossiter rounds up some of the best.

Are online auctions the future of the art trade?

Does the increasing popularity of online auctions threaten the future of the physical saleroom? Can the auction experience ever be replicated online? Alexander Gilkes and Jane Tennant debate the issue in our October Forum.