Art and Antiques
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Two Clippers –Nocturne by Montague Dawson (1890–1973), late 1950s, 39in by 49in, private collection. Credit: Courtesy of Doyle’s Auctioneers & Appraisers -
Credit: Pete Huggins Henry Moore at Houghton Hall: Where ancient architecture meets modern art
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The Library at Stanford Hall. Credit: Paul Highnam / Country Life How a collection of first editions can make your personal library just that little bit more special
Few things are more alluring than a spectacularly beautiful library within a fine country house. But should you be fortunate enough to own such a room, the problem of what to keep within can be tricky — though rare first editions are always a good bet.
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'The De Vegh Twins', 1975, by Alice Neel (1900-84), 40x48 inches. ©The Estate of Alice Neel; reproduced by courtesy of The Estate of Alice Neel and David Zwirner Credit: ©The Estate of Alice Neel; reproduced by courtesy of The Estate of Alice Neel and David Zwirner My Favourite Painting: Polly Devlin
The writer chooses 'The De Vegh Twins', a simple but haunting work by an American artist for whom fame came late: Alice Neel.
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The black-and-white print of The Scream by Edvard Munch. Thomas@Widerberg.no / Picture courtesy of British Library's 'Edvard Munch: Love and Angst' exhibition. Credit: The Scream by Edvard Munch. Thomas@Widerberg.no / Picture courtesy of British Library's 'Edvard Munch: Love and Angst' exhibition. In Focus: A haunting monochrome printing of The Scream which bears Munch's own description of its meaning
The British Museum is currently running its largest exhibition of Edvard Munch's prints in almost half a century — and naturally, the artist's most famous work comes under the microscope. Rosie Paterson paid a visit.
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Swimming Pool, Key West by Leonard Rosoman. 1996, 18in by 26in, acrylic on paper. Credit: ©Francis Ware – www.fware.co.uk In Focus: The war artist who taught Hockney, and whose reputation is only going to grow
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'Birthday' by Dorothea Tanning (1910 – 2012). Painted in 1942, oil on canvas, 1022 x 648 mm. Credit: Dorothea Tanning / Philadelphia Museum of Art ©DACS 2019 In Focus: Dorothea Tanning's 'Birthday', the paradoxical self-portrait that challenged and redefined Surrealism
The life and career of Surrealist artist Dorothea Tanning spanned two continents and more than a century. Lilias Wigan picks out a key image from the current exhibition celebrating Tanning's work at Tate Modern.
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Peace, 1896, by William Strutt (1825–1915), 34¼in by 51¼in, Brecon Cathedral, Powys. Credit: Photograph by Daniel Gould / Country Life My Favourite Painting: The Archbishop of Wales
'The Christian faith is, for some, too idealistic or naïve, but for those who understand Strutt’s inspiration, the painting is a metaphor for the Kingdom of God.'
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Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of African American History and Culture Architectural Photrography. Credit: Alan Karchmer In Focus: David Adjaye and 'Making Memory', an exploration of the democratisation of the monument
David Adjaye's 'Making Memory' exhibition offers the rare chance to see buildings in the making and explore the working processes of a major architect, still in the middle of his career. Chloe-Jane Good paid a visit.
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Graffiti on his studio wall, 1927–65, by Alberto Giacometti (1901–66). The studio was at 46, rue Hippolyte-Maindron, Montparnasse, Paris, but has now been reconstructed at the Giacometti Institute, 5, Rue Victor Schoelcher. Credit: Corbis/VCG via Getty. My Favourite Painting: Michael Peppiatt
'I visited in January 1966 with a scrawled introduction from Francis Bacon, but felt too intimidated to knock on his door. Later, I learnt Giacometti had just died. This lost opportunity haunted me.'
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Credit: Alamy Expert tips for caring for antique Oriental rugs
Roger Rose of James Barclay, the rug cleaning and repair service, offers advice on caring for antique Oriental rugs.
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Vinternatt i Rondane (or Winter Night in the Mountains) Credit: Harald Sohlberg, courtesy of the National Museum of Art and Design, Norway In Focus: The artist whose masterpiece was voted Norway's national painting, finally getting the recognition he deserves elsewhere
Caroline Bugler is spellbound by the Scandinavian landscape painter’s magical evocation of fjords, villages and mountains.
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Comtesse d’Haussonville, 1845, by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780–1867), 52in by 36¼in. Credit: The Frick Collection, New YorK. My Favourite Painting: Sir Peter Osborne
'There’s that extraordinary gaze of hers, how confident and proud – she was, after all, born a princess – but, at the same time, how alluring and seductive, her eyes following you as you walk past her.'
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John Ruskin's Study of Moss, Fern and Wood-Sorrel, upon a Rocky River Bank (1875-79) Credit: Hazel Drummond / Collection Guild of St George / Museums Sheffield In Focus: The exquisite yet tiny botanical study by John Ruskin that took him four years to complete
Lilias Wigan looks at a key work by the trailblazing thinker, artist and philanthropist John Ruskin, whose focus on nature seems ever more apt with each passing year.
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'Spring' by Pieter Breughel the Younger (1564-1638). 16½in by 22½in, private collection. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo My Favourite Painting: Bunny Guinness
The regular panellist on Radio 4’s 'Gardeners’ Question Time' chooses a bucolic scene by a Flemish master.
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Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890), Avenue of Poplars in Autumn, 1884, Oil on canvas on panel 990 x 657 mm Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation). Credit: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation). In Focus: How his time in Britain helped shap Van Gogh's life, career and art
Charles Darwent discovers the little-known influences of British art and culture on the work of Vincent van Gogh.
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‘Skaters on a Frozen River with Horses and Figures by a Tent and Other Figures by a Horse and cart on a Track’ by Andries Vermeulen (1763–1814). Picture date unknown; 20½in by 26in, private collection. Credit: Andrew Sydenham/Country Life My Favourite Painting: Tim Breitmeyer
The head of the CLA chooses a wintry scene by Vermeulen.
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Beadles at Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly. Credit: Richard Cannon / Country Life Meet the Beadles: The centuries-old private police force at Burlington Arcade, the world's swishest shopping mall
This week marked the 200th birthday of London’s Burlington Arcade. Adam Hay-Nicholls goes undercover with the Beadles, its private police force. With photographs by Richard Cannon.
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Rembrandt, Self Portrait at the Age of 34 oil on canvas, c.1640. Credit: Alamy In Focus: How Rembrandt’s self-portraits were masterpieces of art, experimentation – and even marketing
Rembrandt painted more self-portraits than any painter who came before him. But why? And what do they tell us about one of the great Grand Masters? Nick Trend explains.
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‘The Old King, 1916–36’, by Georges Rouault (1871–1958), 30¼in by 21¼in, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, USA. Credit: ADAP, Paris and DACS, London, 2019 / Totnes Photographic My Favourite Painting: Rodney Peppé
The children's author on a key work by Georges Rouault which entranced him before he knew anything of its creator.
