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
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
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
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?
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
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
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…
Heist at the Louvre
On Sunday, October 19th, a group of men executed a heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, stealing a collection of jewelry estimated to be worth €88 million (or $102 million). While the popular imagination makes it seem like heists … More…
Painting Of The Week: James Buttersworth’s Yachts Racing Off Southampton
With summer growing more and more distant, memories of warmer weather may help some of us through the winter. While beach scenes might come to mind, paintings with sailing and boating subjects may also do the trick. This is where … More…
Leonardo’s Lost Words
Through several art installations, a new project in Milan will focus on Leonardo da Vinci, his interest in words, and his impact on the Italian language. Sabrina D’Alessandro is not a typical artist. Most of her work involves language, specifically … More…
New Taylor Swift Video Merges Pop Music With 19th Century Painting
Taylor Swift recently released the music video for “The Fate of Ophelia”, her new single from the album The Life of a Showgirl. Many eagle-eyed viewers have also picked up on the art historical references in the video. The lyrics … More…
Vienna Exhibition Shines Light On Forgotten Female Artist
Michaelina Wautier, a previously overlooked female painter from the Flemish Baroque period, is now getting a moment in the spotlight with her own exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Very little is known about Wautier’s life. She was born … More…
Rembrandt Restoration at the Städel Museum
Rembrandt’s Blinding of Samson, one of the artist’s most prominent religious works, is set to receive an extensive makeover. The Blinding of Samson dates to 1636, in the early stages of Rembrandt’s peak. He mainly produced portraits at the time, … More…
Picasso Museum Announces Expansion
The Picasso Museum in Paris has recently announced a $50 million expansion project, which will include an outdoor space for a public sculpture garden. It has been eleven years since the last renovations at the Picasso Museum. The museum is … More…
Trump NEA Policy Ruled Unlawful
A federal court has prohibited the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) from implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order barring grants to organizations promoting “gender ideology”. Since Donald Trump reassumed the presidency in January 2025, his administration has been exerting … More…
Modernités at Sotheby’s Paris
On Friday, October 24th, Sotheby’s Paris hosted its Modernités sale, featuring mostly twentieth-century works by European and North American artists, including Jean Dubuffet, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jean Fautrier. The main draw, however, was a pair of portraits by the Italian … More…