Art

Charles Harvey and Jon Press examine the aesthetic achievements of the multi-talented and pioneering early Socialist.

David Ellwood discusses America's cultural take-over of Europe in a seemingly innocent Italian 1950s comedy called "Un Americano a Roma". The comedy features a hapless hero whose attempts to Americanise himself mirror Italy's struggle to handle a clash of cultures after World War II.

Ann Hills investigates a new online database of all English Heritage historic wall paintings.

Catherine King reviews two new books on art

David Elliott looks at how Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler used culture to their own ends and how the ramifications of this has continued to the present.

F.Bremer and E.Rydell examine the tricks used by preachers in 17th-century England and America to hold their audiences.

Sue Harper reveals how a swashbuckling tale of gypsy romance opens an unexpected window on 1940s women in Britain.

Brian Allen looks at how contemporary military and political aspirations and events inspired – or failed to inspire the artists of mid-Georgian Britain.

Luke Syson examines how artifice, art and political calculation combined to produce medal portraits by Sperandio of Mantua for two of Renaissance Italy's "warhorses", Giovanni Bentivoglio and Federico da Montelfeltro.

Andrew Martindale explains why Renaissance Sienese doctored the history of a 12th-century papacy when decorating their new city hall.