How Did the First World War Change the Arts?
Surrealism – as formulated in André Breton’s manifesto a century ago in October 1924 – is regarded as one of the First World War’s artistic legacies. What are the others?
Art
The Wreck of the Vrouw Maria
On 9 October 1771 masterpieces of Dutch art destined for Catherine the Great sank with the Vrouw Maria off the coast of Finland.
The Theft of the Ghent Altarpiece
When a priceless altarpiece was stolen from a Belgian cathedral it sparked a 90-year hunt. The crime remains unsolved.
Deeds Not Words: Slashing the Rokeby Venus
On 10 May 2024 the National Gallery reaches its 200th anniversary. From the suffragettes to Just Stop Oil, the gallery – specifically Diego Velásquez’s Rokeby Venus – has been a magnet for activists. Why?
The Vienna Secession is Founded
On 3 April 1897 a young Gustav Klimt led a group of artists in open revolt, seceding from Vienna’s cultural establishment.
Deaf Expression in Renaissance Art
Seen to be less capable because of their deafness, deaf artists in the Renaissance used their art as a powerful means of expression.
John Goffe Rand Invents Paint Tubes
On 11 September 1841, John Goffe Rand patented the ‘metal rolls for paint’, sparking a revolution in oil painting.
Jukurrpa
The sacred sites of Aboriginal art.
Armless Fun?
In 1820 the discovery of an ancient Greek statue with missing arms posed more questions than answers.
Absent Treasure
A Ghanaian moment in Africa’s struggle to repatriate its art.