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'He was really the most radical artist of the 19th century': Georges Seurat at the Courtauld GalleryGeorges Seurat spent much of his short life painting the quietude of the Northern French coast, honing his rigorous technique on the play of light, sky and water.
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The true story of St Valentine, his legend and legacy of loveWhatever the truth of the real St Valentine, the middle of February has been a favourite time for lovers since records began. We take a look at the curious history of St Valentine, and how an ancient martyr came to be remembered as a champion of romantic love.
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‘I’m like: “Give me those tights, let me show you”: Ballet superstar Carlos Acosta’s consuming passionsBorn one of 11 children in a Cuban slum, it’s been 36 years since Carlos Acosta’s career as an internationally famous dancer formally began. Lotte Brundle meets him at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he is the director.
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‘Please, for heaven’s sake, not a pear-shaped diamond with a gold band’: Proposal etiquette for the modern manValentine's Day unsurprisingly ranks as one of the top dates each year for proposals. But how to make sure you are doing it right?
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What have the Romans ever done for us? For one thing, taught us the art of seductionMore Britons are single, unmarried or living alone now than at any other point in history. Our predecessors might offer ways out of the rut — and into each other's arms.
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The W1 set is up in arms about Liz Truss's roof terrace. But what is a members' club without one?The former Prime Minister is launching a new club in Mayfair's Leconfield House, angering local residents who've complained prematurely of the ruckus this is certain to cause.
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It has been hard to keep track of the cascade of good news about the Arts, so we've done it for you2026 is shaping up to be a bumper year.
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This Civil War coat and armour has survived four centuries in almost perfect condition — apart from the hole made by the musket ball that killed the man who wore itJohn Goodall visits Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire to discover the tale of one of its most extraordinary artefacts: the coat worn by a 17th century nobleman when he was killed during one of the key battles of the English Civil War.
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£1.5 billion might be spent on Arts buildings, but who will be left to run them?Spending money on bricks and mortar is one thing, but we must also reward the staff and experts that keep our culture alive.
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What is everyone talking about this week: As Valentine's Day beckons, love letters are making a comebackYoung lovers are foregoing expensive gifts and turning instead to quill and paper. Is it a result of the cost-of-living crisis — or something else?
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‘I don't consider myself to be a nepo baby at all’: Caroline Avedon on preserving her grandfather's legacy — and her consuming passionsCaroline initially wanted to be a lawyer, but now that she works for Richard Avedon’s foundation, she can’t imagine doing anything else, finds Lotte Brundle.
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Cybele and Juno statues finally return to Stowe's south-front porticoThe statues were originally lost after a content sale, but have been dutifully re-created as part of an ongoing restoration programme.
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Jenson Button: 'Get rid of your ego'The former F1 World Champion speaks to Country Life about retirement, his career, and what the future holds.
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'We made the mistake of accepting the word of a surveyor. Off we went on a voyage of restoration lasting 30 years': Griff Rhys-Jones on his first house in the countryThe comedian, actor and conservation campaigner Griff Rhys-Jones has called rural Suffolk home for over 40 years.
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'Attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places': Slim Aarons's photographs of Cortina d’Ampezzo resurface ahead of the Winter OlympicsThe Winter Olympics are nearly upon us. To celebrate we're taking a look back at legendary photographer Slim Aarons's photographs of Cortina d'Ampezzo which is hosting the Games for the second time.
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Ranking Agatha Christie’s murders from least to most likelyHave you been watching Netflix's 'Seven Dials' and wondering just how likely that murder really is? Laura Kay ranks ten of the Queen of Crime's best offings.
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'The Taylor Swift effect? We've never experienced anything like it': Jeweller Cece Fein-Hughes' consuming passionsCece Jewellery's signature signet rings are beloved by the famous and fabulous — including Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi and Taylor Swift. Lotte Brundle meets the woman behind the jewellery.
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A study in sculpture: 10 of the finest pieces from the Royal CollectionA new catalogue in four volumes explores the extraordinary riches of the sculpture in the Royal Collection. Its author, Sir Jonathan Marsden, selects 10 of his favourite works that reflect the diversity of this astonishing collection.
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‘I thought I was going to be sick. I was very nervous about MasterChef’: Monica Galetti’s consuming passionsThe professional chef talks to Lotte Brundle about food, family and how fame came calling.
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Eileen Soper: The 'schoolgirl among the masters' with paintings in millions of homes, even yoursRenowned for illustrating the ‘Famous Five’ series, the mercurial, motorcar-obsessed Eileen Soper lived a bucolic and eccentric life.
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Posh people do well on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! because they survived boarding school: Sophia Money-Coutt's snob's guide to reality television'One of my least favourite forms of snobbery is television snobbery,' says our weekly columnist — who also reveals what her favourite reality television shows are.
