Art Market
The rise of art business courses is a mixed blessing for the art trade
There are more art business courses than ever, but does the discipline need to define itself more clearly?
David Hockney’s art used to be cheap as chips
In 1954, the young David Hockney made a lithograph of his local chippie and gave it to the owners. It hung above the fryer for years
Exploring Ghana’s growing art scene
Public funding for the arts in Ghana is practically non-existent, but a thriving network of artists and arts professionals is emerging
The growing market for Indian arms and armour
Exquisite pieces of Indian arms and armour are capturing the interest of international collectors
A swashbuckling tale of trade and trickery
In 1804, a fleet of English merchant vessels fooled the French navy into retreat. Each captain was presented with an exquisite sword for their troubles
An epic Magritte is set to be the highlight of Christie’s ‘Art of the Surreal’ sale
Auction highlights this month include works by Morisot and Magritte at Christie’s, and Sotheby’s inaugural ‘Erotic: Passion and Desire’ sale
Collectors remain enamoured with Limoges enamels
Vibrant and intricate Limoges enamels from the 12th century are increasingly hard to come by, but collectors are willing to spend
Could hipsters save the antique furniture trade?
Antique furniture has been unpopular for years – but tastes are changing
Old Masters, new scandal, as a ‘Parmigianino’ painting is deemed a fake
As New York gears up for its Old Master sales, Sotheby’s has declared a work it sold in 2012 a forgery after tests found modern pigments
Highlights of BRAFA art fair
BRAFA pulls off the tricky task of subtly reinventing itself to suit changing tastes, while catering to every specialism
Private collections may be a good thing for public institutions
In a time of increased uncertainty for public art institutions, museums are reevaluting their relationships with private collectors
Why the market for Outsider Art is booming in New York
Prices for Outsider Art are now close to matching those fetched by the mainstream
Art market predictions for 2017
Leading art market figures and auction house supremos make their predictions for the year ahead
Sotheby’s takes a risk on a potential Velázquez
A ‘bodegón’ thought to be by Velázquez, a Tiepolo head study, and a stag-antler chair are just some of the highlights headed to auction this month
A tour around January’s art fair highlights
From British modern art, to antique rugs and Old Master drawings, there’s something for everyone on the art fair circuit this month
The Old Masters stay fresh in London
The London Old Master sales may not have included any blockbuster paintings, but sales were strong for works fresh to the market
The commercial and critical rise of the Caravaggisti
Caravaggio’s radical vision inspired a legion of followers across Europe, whose work is increasingly in the spotlight at museums and auction houses alike
Christie’s offers the makings of a Burne-Jones masterpiece
Not one, but two groups of preparatory work for Edward Burne-Jones’s monumental painting ‘The Golden Stairs’ have made it into the same sale
A marvellous Murillo comes to Christie’s
Auction highlights this month include a masterful but unfashionable Murillo, and a captivating Egyptian sculpture of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet
Optimism at Art Basel in Miami Beach
Dealers are optimistic that sales will be strong despite a more muted atmosphere than previous years; plus the latest art market news and comment
Why a sleeping hermaphrodite is causing a stir at Christie’s
Horace Walpole’s aunt once quipped that the hermaphrodite was ‘the only happy couple she ever saw’. A bronze variation on the theme comes to auction soon…
Does South Africa have what it takes to become a global art market hub?
With a new museum due to open in Cape Town soon, a growing gallery scene, and burgeoning international interest in contemporary African art, signs are good
New York’s art market holds steady despite political upheaval
A look at the highlights at Sotheby’s and Christie’s – plus a major sale in Stockholm, and the latest from Abu Dhabi
Will Korean ceramics regain their value on the global market?
‘People put great stock in the history. Without it, these objects are worth much less.’
Pilgrims’ progress? The Vatican Jubilee has frustrated Romans and tourists alike