The most spectacular floor in Italy
With its combination of visual splendour and complex allegory, the marble pavement of Siena Cathedral is one of the most enticing of all Renaissance masterpieces
The gilded pages of Evelyn De Morgan
At Leighton House, intricate gold drawings by the Pre-Raphaelite artist reveal her great debt to Italian sources
Dosso Dossi’s scenes from the Aeneid are a Roman triumph
Reuniting the surviving works from the painter’s ‘Frieze of Aeneas’ series allows us to imagine one of the great Renaissance ensembles more clearly
How Italy protected its art from the Nazis
An exhibition in Rome recounts the complicated tale of efforts to safeguard masterpieces across the country during the Second World War
The heavenly bodies of Guido Reni
An exhibition at the Städel Museum shows that the baroque painter’s idealised figures are certainly an acquired taste
The Renaissance painters who turned to stone
It was Sebastiano del Piombo who rediscovered the ancient art of painting on stone and inspired others to make the most of their material
The fetishistic side of Henry Fuseli
The artist’s drawings of women are a testament to his private proclivities. It’s no wonder he never put them on public display
Wilton House may be famous for its sculpture, but its paintings are just as worthwhile
The paintings acquired by the earls of Pembroke over several generations now have the catalogue they deserve
How Van Dyck made his mark on English portraiture
It’s no secret that Van Dyck inspired generations of artists, but a new book paints a more nuanced picture of the painter’s reception
Entente cordiale: the pally portraitists of 18th-century France
Portraits were used to further friendships – and as networking opportunities – in Enlightenment France
Fruitful pastels – the colourful career of Rosalba Carriera
A new study examines the 18th-century artist’s pioneering use of pastel and her capacity for self-promotion
The sophisticated still lifes of Giovanna Garzoni
The painter’s painstakingly precise botanical illustrations were highly sought after in the 17th century
The private collection that paved the way for the National Gallery
The Marquess of Stafford’s noble endeavour gave the public a taste of what a national collection might look like
‘Rich insights into a restless mind’ – Leonardo’s drawings at the Queen’s Gallery
Leonardo’s art may be universal, but his notes and sketches also reveal a man firmly rooted in his age
The mysterious masterpieces of Lorenzo Lotto
The Venetian painter was overshadowed by Titian in his day, but his subtle portraits have a very modern appeal
Tintoretto’s drawings fizz with energy and invention at the Morgan
The 500th anniversary of the Venetian master’s birth prompts this celebration of his sprightly draughtsmanship
Charles I, the connoisseur king
His political judgements may have been poor, but Charles I’s art collection was first rate
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Making art behind bars can be its own form of release