Contemporary Front page
Upcoming Installation Honors Christo & Jeanne-Claude
A photo of the Pont Neuf in Paris wrapped in tarps.

Upcoming Installation Honors Christo & Jeanne-Claude

In a tribute to the late environmental artists Christo & Jeanne-Claude, the French photographer and street artist JR plans to use Paris’s Pont Neuf as a canvas for an installation work. Christo Javacheff became known for large-scale environmental and installation … More…

Fabergé Sold, Fabergé Swallowed
An egg made of crystal alongside a small sculpture of a bouquet.

Fabergé Sold, Fabergé Swallowed

Fabergé was in the news twice this week, for very different reasons. The first was that an incredibly rare Fabergé egg once owned by the Russian Czars sold at Christie’s for an astronomical price. The second was because a man … More…

Sotheby’s London Old Masters Evening Sale
A 17th century half-length portrait of a young man with long hair and hands folded on top of a book.

Sotheby’s London Old Masters Evening Sale

This past week, the major London auction houses hosted a series of Old Masters sales for Classics Week; the Sotheby’s Old Master & 19th Century evening sale on Wednesday was certainly the highlight of the week. Thirty lots crossed the … More…

Louvre Announces Ticket Price Hikes
The Louvre at night, with I.M. Pei's famous glass pyramid outside

Louvre Announces Ticket Price Hikes

The Louvre has announced it will raise ticket prices by 45% for non-EU visitors. The Louvre will have to find multiple ways to raise money for the extensive renovations promised by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year. One of … More…

Lost Rubens Sold in Paris
A painting of Jesus being crucified.

Lost Rubens Sold in Paris

A masterwork by the Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens has sold in Paris for €2.94 million after being lost for centuries. Back in September, I wrote about this lost Rubens painting, Christ on the Cross, and its rediscovery in Paris … More…

Sotheby’s NY Exquisite Corpus Evening Sale
Frida Kahlo lying asleep in a wooden bed with a skeleton resting on the canopy above her.

Sotheby’s NY Exquisite Corpus Evening Sale

To close out the week of blockbuster New York sales, Sotheby’s hosted a pair of auctions dedicated to surrealist art, titled Exquisite Corpus. This is a rather clever art historical reference to a surrealist practice called the exquisite corpse. This … More…

Christie’s November 2025 – Nearly $1 Billion in Modern & Post-War Sales
Screenshot 2025-11-28 100758

Christie’s November 2025 – Nearly $1 Billion in Modern & Post-War Sales

Following the momentum from the landmark Sotheby’s sale, Christie’s held its 20th and 21st Century auctions in New York on November 20–21, 2025. According to Christie’s, the combined sales realized $964,536,953, marking the highest total for this category at the … More…

Sotheby’s November 2025 – A Record-Breaking Night with Klimt & the Lauder Collection
Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer by Gustav Klimt

Sotheby’s November 2025 – A Record-Breaking Night with Klimt & the Lauder Collection

On November 18th, Sotheby’s opened its new Manhattan headquarters at the Breuer Building with one of the most significant auctions the art world has seen in years. The evening centered on works from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection and quickly … More…

Painting of the Week: Miyajima by Frank Ernest Beresford
A landscape of a Japanese island with a pagoda

Painting of the Week: Miyajima by Frank Ernest Beresford

Miyajima shows a waterside scene on the titular island in Japan’s Inland Sea. Frank Beresford (1881 – 1967) attended the Royal Academy in London, with his efforts rewarded with scholarships that allowed him to travel extensively, particularly to Asia. Today, … More…

Klimt African Prince Portrait Seized
A 19th century portrait of a black man with a toga-like garment.

Klimt African Prince Portrait Seized

A portrait of a West African prince by the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt has been seized by prosecutors in Vienna since it may have been improperly exported from Hungary. Several months ago, I wrote about conspiracy theories circulating online claiming … More…

Philadelphia Museum’s Ex-Director Sues
A large building with a classical-style columned portico

Philadelphia Museum’s Ex-Director Sues

Alexandra “Sasha” Suda is suing the Philadelphia Art Museum after she was allegedly wrongfully terminated as its director. Last week, the Philadelphia Art Museum (formerly the Philadelphia Museum of Art) announced the firing of its director and chief executive, Sasha … More…

Louvre Security & the Theft of the Mona Lisa
mona_lisa

Louvre Security & the Theft of the Mona Lisa

On October 19th, a heist at the Louvre in Paris sent shockwaves throughout the art world and became the hot current events story for the end of October. Late-night hosts made jokes, and many people designed Halloween costumes inspired by … More…

Rockwell Family Denounces DHS Posts
A black-and-white photograph of Norman Rockwell

Rockwell Family Denounces DHS Posts

The family of the American artist Norman Rockwell has called upon federal agencies to stop using the artist’s work in content promoting the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies. In recent months, government agencies have used parts of Norman Rockwell’s work on … More…

Vermeer’s Pearl Earring Subject Identified?
A portrait of a young woman looking towards the viewer over her left shoulder against a black background wearing a blue and yellow turban as well as a pearl earring.

Vermeer’s Pearl Earring Subject Identified?

Has the mystery finally been solved? One British art historian believes he has identified the subject of Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring — a revelation that could completely reshape our understanding of the Dutch master’s work. Vermeer’s Girl … More…

Bob Ross Paintings Go To Auction
A winter landscape by Bob Ross

Bob Ross Paintings Go To Auction

Thirty paintings by beloved television art instructor Bob Ross will soon head to auction, with proceeds supporting public television. American Public Television (APT) has consigned the collection to Bonhams, which will feature several of the works in its California & … More…

Venice Through Monet’s Eyes
A painting by Claude Monet showing the facade of the Palazzo Ducale, or the Doge's Palace in Venice facing the Grand Canal.

Venice Through Monet’s Eyes

On Saturday, October 11th, the Brooklyn Museum opened its Monet & Venice exhibition to the public, marking the largest museum show to focus on the artist in nearly twenty-five years. In 1908, Claude Monet was living and working in the … More…