Art & Exhibitions
Extensive coverage of leading artists, and the visual and decorative arts, from Old Masters and antiques to contemporary painting, sculpture and crafts.
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A five minute guide to John Constable's most famous paintingHow much do you know about 'The Hay Wain' — the iconic, oil-on-canvas painting depicting an idyllic rural scene on the River Stour?
By Carla Passino Published
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There is more to Lady Jane Grey — our shortest reigning monarch — than this, the most famous painting of herOn the anniversary of the crowning of Lady Jane Grey, Carla Passino analyses Paul Delaroche's depiction of England and Ireland's nine-day Queen.
By Carla Passino Published
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How Frida Kahlo’s life and image have become a global phenomenon — and what her self portraits really say about herFrida Kahlo painted her own image obsessively in gloriously confrontational pictures that unpick the wounds of her broken body, writes Jessica Lack.
By Jessica Lack Published
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Anish Kapoor's five best, and most bonkers, installationsOur Art and Antiques Editor Carla Passino chooses five of her favourite installations from the British-Indian sculptor's new exhibition.
By Carla Passino Published
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The allure of irises lies not in their botany, but in their ability to express emotionThe striking iris, with its infinite palette of colours and habitats, has bloomed on the Great Sphinx of Giza, on Roman standards and in paintings from Leonardo da Vinci to Vincent van Gogh.
By Michael Prodger Published
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Monaco's answer to Scotland's NC500 is proof that it's the Riviera’s new culture capitalSteven King makes the case for walking the Principality’s open-air sculpture trail.
By Steven King Published
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What David Hockney said about art was rightThis week's Athena looks back at what the famous artist thought about his artform.
By Athena Published
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Forget doom scrolling, Art History is the best way for Gen Z to embrace visual cultureThis week's leader looks at how studying Art History can better help today's youth to understand the world they live in.
By Country Life Published
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From a white horse to a concrete house: Five major milestones in English art historyCharlotte Mullins, author of 'The Art Isles: A 15,000-year story of art in Britain and Ireland', looks at some of England's most vital artworks.
By Charlotte Mullins Published
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'The exhibition reminds you in a very physical way that everything is connected': How Britain’s greatest sculptor engages with the worldThe largest solo exhibition of Antony Gormley's work in continental Europe prompts Charlotte Mullins to ask how an artist engages with the world when their work is located outside of the gallery.
By Charlotte Mullins Published
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Was there ever a city so densely populated by brilliant minds, so tightly packed with bright ideas? Mark Rothko is following in the footsteps of Michelangelo and taking over FlorenceA major retrospective of Mark Rothko's work is now open in Florence. Steven King went to have a look.
By Steven King Last updated
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Keep calm and carry on because the triumphant return of British landscape painting is hereCarla Passino picks out five of her favourite paintings from a new and ambitious exhibition that charts the rise and evolution of landscape painting.
By Carla Passino Published
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No shoes please, we're French: The seaside gallery celebrating Pop Art — and you have to look round barefootAmy Serafin journeys to Villa Carmignac on the Île de Porquerolles for their 'Sea, Pop & Sun' exhibition.
By Amy Serafin Published
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‘We thought they could be a lovely gift for our daughter-in-law’: How an unsuspecting couple found £11,000 worth of cat paintings in a skipTwo works by 19th-century artist Louis Wain are heading for auction, after being rescued by a couple in South Wales who had no idea of their value.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Bountiful maiden or Virgin Queen: The many faces of Elizabeth I paint a compelling portraitElizabeth I forged her own myth through portraiture, as a new exhibition at the Philip Mould Gallery in London reveals.
By Carla Passino Published
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The mysterious case of one of the most important British artists of the 1990s who is back with a bang after more than 25 yearsCathy de Monchaux was part of the YBA generation and nominated for a Turner Prize, but, despite living in Hoxton for the last 35 years, has hardly shown in the UK. Charlotte Mullins discovers how she feels about her retrospective being in France and not home.
By Charlotte Mullins Published
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It's a Henry Moore summer in the gardens of EnglandA suite of exhibitions this summer celebrates one of Britain's greatest ever sculptors.
By Carla Passino Published
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The Met Gala dress code is 'Fashion is Art'. But is it?Does McQueen equal Mondrian? And is Dior on a par with Dalí? Susanne Madsen weighs in.
By Susanne Madsen Published
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‘Vandalised, disembowelled and dismembered’: Artist Jack Milroy gives books a brutal treatment with beautiful resultsThe artist, now 87, once ate tinned sardines for 100 lunches in a row for his craft. He speaks to Lotte Brundle ahead of a new London exhibition.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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The world has gone Lilliputian: The 21st-century renaissance of the dolls' houseA renewed interest in opulent dolls' houses is allowing artisans to indulge their wilder miniature flights of fancy.
By Gavin Plumley Published
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A glass act: This centuries-old craft is alive and wellFrom Venice to Netflix, blown glass as an art form still captures the imagination.
By Claire Jackson Published


