Country Life’s best art stories of 2018: Monet, Andrew Graham-Dixon and Victorian Photoshopping
We've taken a look back through our archives from the year to pick out our top 10 articles of 2018 featuring the world's most breathtaking, inspiring and inspiring art from all sorts of genres and periods.

The 160-year-old ‘Photoshopped’ picture which shocked Victorian England
This fascinating look at the work of Victorian photographers focused on a remarkable work by the great Oscar Rejlander.
The ancient roman temple which lay under London, undiscovered for over 17 centuries
The creation of a new building in central London unearthed a temple to the god Mithras which had lain undiscovered for almost two millennia.
The paintings which show Monet’s genius for architecture as well as nature
Think of Monet and you think of reflections and nature, but his works included huge amounts of architecture and other elements of the modern, technological age in which he lived.
10 glorious paintings which perfectly encapsulate the art of the conversation piece
A look at this intimate and informal Georgian form of portraiture which celebrated families without the usual swagger or posturing.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The photographer obsessed with why we all like to be beside the seaside
Knotted hankies at the ready for this look at some wonderful photographs documenting the British public's relationship with coastal resorts.
A moment in time capturing the gulf between architects’ dreams and residents’ realities
Tony Ray-Jones was one of a generation of photographers who chronicled life in Britain in the 1960s and 1970s, demonstrating the gulf between the dreams of town planners and the reality for the residents.
My Favourite Painting: Andrew Graham-Dixon
'Lesson Number One: it’s the pictures that baffle and tantalise you that stay in the mind forever,' said the art historian and presenter about this staggering image.
The Canadian hermit’s work that is a dystopian alternative to Monet
Canadian artist David Milne moved from city to country, eventually ending up as a hermit in a remote part of his homeland. This key work from that time is simultaneously impressionistic and brutally honest.
The Van Dyck portrait that shows Charles I as monarch, connoisseur and proud father
Lilias Wigan takes a detailed look at Van Dyck's The Greate Peece, one of the highlights of the Royal Academy's stunning exhibition of the art collected by Charles I.
How Holman Hunt’s Lady of Shallot was inspired by Van Eyck’s greatest masterpiece
Jan Van Eyck's iconic The Arnolfini Portrait inspired dozens of artists – but none to greater effect than Holman Hunt.
Jools Holland’s Favourite Painting
Jools Holland introduces his favourite painting – Tulip petal number 3
Stephen Fry’s favourite painting
Stephen Fry shares why he loves this famous Velázquez painting of Pope Innocent X
Credit: Alamy
In Focus: A grim masterpiece of the French painter who became the ultimate storyteller in paint
Laura Freeman examines the brilliance and bravado of Eugène Delacroix’s paintings – including an extraordinary recreation of one of the most
In Focus: A silent cellist, blazing with pleasure, by Klimt's great young protégé Schiele
When he first came on to the Vienna art scene, Egon Schiele hero-worshipped Gustav Klimt. Once they met the two
In Focus: The Norman Ackroyd landscape etchings that have sparked comparisons with Turner
This week marks the last chance to see Norman Ackroyd's sublime exhibition in Richmond. Lilias Wigan urges you to take
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
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Galls: Nature's most beautiful, horrifying and intriguing parasites
A playground for aphids, wasp eggs, and funghi — galls come in all shapes and sizes
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The market for super-prime houses in England's biggest millionaire's playground is booming — and this £10m example is one of the best
Whirley Hall is a 17th century building that's a perfect example of how 21st century updates can transform an old home almost beyond recognition.
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A five minute guide to the Loch Ness monster
The legend of the Loch Ness monster has endured for more than a thousand years, inspiring countless works of art along the way.
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The Glovebox: Phantom in a pool, Porsches in the snow and a new world record for Polestar
Rolls-Royce celebrates one of Rock and Roll's greatest myths, and Polestar drives for almost 23 hours on a single charge.
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'You have to work hand in hand with the author — like a dancer has to work with the music': Illustrating Homer's epic poems
Artist Clive Hicks-Jenkins, faced with the colossal challenge of illustrating Homer's 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey', eschewed grandstand views of monumental battles, looking instead for what he calls the little cracks in the paving stones.
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Audi RS3: The devil in a green dress
Audi's iconic hot hatch has had a 2025 facelift. It might be the best one they've ever made.
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Time to join the fan club: the history of this summer's must-have accessory
As summer temperatures continue to soar, fans — long considered a fashion anachronism — are back in the style spotlight.
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The watch maketh the man: What your watch says about you
We hate to stereotype, but it has become apparent that certain timepieces ally with certain traits. Nick Foulkes delves into what else ‘turns the dial’ for each of these watch-loving gents.
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Jeep Avenger 4xe North Face Edition: You've got the clothes. Now get the car
Jeep's collaboration with North Face has yielded more than a branding exercise. It's a compact off-roader with real capability and a sprinkling of adrenaline-fuelled joy.
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Art saved for the nation? Not enough, it would seem
The recent publication of a report on export control of art from the UK makes depressing reading.