From schools to cigar shops – the eclectic vision of Henry van de Velde
The Belgian painter-turned-designer was a prominent figure in the early history of modernism – although his precise role is not so easy to pin down
Messier and Messier – at the FC Barcelona Museum
A visit to Camp Nou – where Lionel Messi’s boots can be found alongside works by Miró, Dalí and Tàpies
‘My art is about overcoming our limitations’ – an interview with Agnes Denes
The artist talks about what it meant to plant a wheatfield in Manhattan – and why she wants her work to outlive her
Around the world in 35,000 objects – and a handful of clicks
The Khalili Collections have partnered up with Wikimedia UK to broaden access to their vast holdings spanning centuries and cultures
‘Making already complex things more complex’ – an interview with Imran Perretta
The artist discusses his latest film, whose title – the destructors – is borrowed from a short story by Graham Greene
Painted as a villain – how the Tudors regarded Richard III
The latest addition to the long gallery at Hever Castle presents the Plantagenet king in the worst possible light
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England’s rich heritage is writ large on its walls – and must be safeguarded
An astonishing number of historic wall paintings have survived religious upheaval, climate-related damage and the passage of time. But they need our protection
Acquisitions of the month: September 2019
This month’s highlights include a rock-crystal Venetian coffer and a once-lost watercolour by Rossetti
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October 2019
• The crowded scenes of William Hogarth
• Are curators getting enough credit?
• An interview with Kiki Smith
• Derek Jarman’s visions of England
Plus: How to show Rembrandt in his best light, previews of TEFAF New York Fall and Frieze Masters, and reviews of the Danish Golden Age in Copenhagen and Marlene Dumas’s take on Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis
Knight vision – how Maximilian I used the arts to bolster his brand
The emperor was no connoisseur – but he understood the power of art to paper over the cracks in his troubled reign
Monsters, mirrors and ruined mansions – on Büyükada island at the Istanbul Biennial
The decaying grandeur of the island makes for a beautiful setting – but it’s one that vies for attention with the art on view
Dijon’s grand old museum has a new look – and it really cuts the mustard
After a decade-long renovation, the palatial Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon can now show its masterpieces to even greater advantage
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Benedict Drew’s new film gives form to the anxiety of modern life
Currently on view at the Science Gallery London, The Bad Feel Loops is a nervous, nerve-wracking piece of work
Cornering the maquette – the Swedish museum dedicated to works in progress
Founded in 1934 in Lund, southern Sweden, the Skissernas Museum of sketches, models and preparatory work offers a valuable insight into artistic projects – including those never made
Cairene conversions – the adopted identities of John Frederick Lewis
The Victorian painter certainly had a penchant for play-acting, but his depictions of Egypt remain something of an enigma
A filched finch that never really takes flight – The Goldfinch, reviewed
The film adaptation of Donna Tartt’s novel is visually enticing but unwieldy
Mummy issues – how ancient Egypt shaped Sigmund Freud
The land of the pharaohs loomed large in the imagination of the father of psychoanalysis
Roger Fry, Renaissance man
The polymath’s taste-making had much to do with his intensive study of Italian artists such as Giotto and Piero della Francesca
Who’s going to shell out for this monumental crab?
‘Truly grotesque’ it may be, but the export bar placed on this characterful Victorian ceramic reflects its importance as a work of art
Caravaggio & Bernini
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
In painting and sculpture, the two artists defined the dramatic realism of the Roman baroque
15 Oct 2019 - 19 Jan 2020
Pre-Raphaelite Sisters
National Portrait Gallery, London
The women in the orbit of the Brotherhood were much more than mere muses
17 Oct 2019 - 26 Jan 2020
El Greco
Grand Palais, Paris
How the Crete-born artist became the first great painter of the Spanish Golden Age
16 Oct 2019 - 10 Feb 2020
Nam June Paik
Tate Modern, London
Robots, screens and satellites – the video art pioneer gets his largest UK survey to date
17 Oct 2019 - 9 Feb 2020
Is the writing on the wall for the private funding of museums?
As wealthy donors and corporate sponsors come under increased scrutiny, Maxwell L. Anderson and David Fleming address the future of museum funding