"The Irish Times used the phrase 'freak pictures’ in a review, and Russell again had a field day, referring to their work as ‘artistic malaria.’ It all weighed heavily on them both.” - The Guardian (UK)
“It is the loot of raiders who for decades have targeted sites from classical antiquity in southern Italy, such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. Some even used underwater metal detectors, GPS, sonar and drones to extract treasures from the shipwrecks and archaeological sites.” - Seattle Times
In Perth, “the Kebab’s original plinth still stands, awaiting the sculpture’s restoration and return. No report ever eventuated examining the three options presented to council in 2022 – conservation, relocation or decommissioning.” Then the spaceman plan was announced. - The Guardian (UK)
They reinstalled Eric Gill’s statue, is what they did. Now it’s behind a “protective screen” (to protect the sculpture, that is), but, uh, "visitors can now scan a QR code near the building to understand the dark background of the sculpture’s creator.” - The Guardian (UK)
"His legacy, like his life, is one of contradictions: he was a radical socialist and hugely successful businessman, who made wallpaper for Queen Victoria; a passionate champion of craftsmanship and workers’ rights, whose designs have become a template for mass-produced tat.” - The Guardian (UK)
Until recently the Kaplan painting had been considered to have been completed between 1670-72. That dating has now been revised, with Wheelock stating it as 1670-75. Vermeer died on 15 December 1675 and Young Woman seated at a Virginal is most likely his final picture. - The Art Newspaper
The Prado hopes that actually knowing exactly how many people are in these crowded scenes will help us better understand these paintings, and how the artists were using large quantities and repetition in their work. - Artnet
“According to the indictment, (Leslie) Roberts, the owner of Miami Fine Art Gallery in Coconut Grove, fraudulently represented art as original pieces created by renowned artist Andy Warhol. … (Carlos Miguel) Rodriguez Melendez falsely claimed to work for a New York-based auction company to fraudulently authenticate the artwork.” - AP
“After an international search, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston has selected its next director and CEO from within its own ranks. Pierre Terjanian, who is presently the museum's chief of curatorial affairs and conservation, will assume the new role in July.” - WBUR (Boston)
Global sales of art and antiques have fallen for a second consecutive year, declining by 12% in 2024 to an estimated $57.5 billion, according to the latest annual Art Market Report by Art Basel and UBS. - CNN
“As part of its programming to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States next year, the NGA has launched ‘Across the Nation,’ which will see major works from its permanent collection loaned to partner institutions in (ten states). Each institution selected between one and ten works to borrow for its display.” - ARTnews
Archaeologists have finally found physical evidence for something they had long suspected: the temple complex included an educational institution, likely for training scribes and priests. They have also discovered a collection of tombs dating from several centuries after Ramses, indicating that the site was in use long after he died. - Artnet
Only one museum in Mexico, with comparable material, didn’t make me feel culturally exhausted or embarrassed by my ignorance in this way. - 3 Quarks Daily
Sarah Boardman won a nationwide “call for artists” by the Colorado state government to paint its official portraits of Obama and Trump. At the unveiling of Trump’s in August 2019, Boardman said she painted in the style of artist Lawrence Williams, who created 43 of the presidential portraits in the state building. - ARTnews
