Comment
Higher purpose – Joseph Wright of Derby’s brush with the divine
The artist’s depiction of an 18th-century scientific experiment may reveal an altogether more spiritual concern
Are artists who are parents getting a raw deal?
Artists have long turned to their children as subjects for their art but with each generation, such work is met with new objections
What the UK’s updated anti-money laundering rules mean for the art market
The new guidance provides some welcome clarity for art businesses, but a few grey areas remain
How Issey Miyake brought art into fashion
The Japanese fashion designer revolutionised womenswear by creating comfortable clothes appreciated for their androgynous elegance and ease
How Raphael gave the Virgin Mary more to do
In the works of Raphael the Virgin Mary often plays a more active and more joyful role than she is allowed by other artists
When it comes to restitution, UK museums should be careful what they wish for
The V&A’s director Tristram Hunt has floated the idea of changing the law to allow national museums to make permanent returns. Robert Hewison advises treading very carefully
Putting a name to one of Glyn Philpot’s most mysterious faces
Who is the subject of the painter’s cryptically titled ‘Madame C d’A’? Tessa Murdoch looks for clues among his most progressive patrons
We now know where all the UK’s public sculptures are – but are they any good?
Art UK’s new catalogue allows us to assess the artistic merits of the nation’s monuments – and to mourn a lost memorial to Percy Bysshe Shelley
An everyday luxury – the artists finding beauty in banality
Artists have long found beauty in the mundane, but choosing to represent everyday subject matter is a privilege that requires the luxury of time
‘The meekest person can manipulate’ – a tribute to Paula Rego (1935–2022)
The Portuguese-British painter told stories of parental abandonment, misogyny and exile with a power that put her in a class of her own
Why did Renaissance artists steal each other’s drawings?
The monetary value of preparatory studies was slight in the Renaissance – but for the ideas they contained, they were worth their weight in gold
Child’s play – why artists are looking to childhood for inspiration
Artists have long embraced playful behaviour – not just as a form of creative release, but also as a way of dealing with conflict and taboo
The historic estate that’s next on the demolition list
The grounds of the Shortgrove estate in Newport, Essex, have long been lovingly preserved, but a new development now threatens its future
All photographs are products of their time – and they should be treated that way
Turning black and white photos into colour – and vice versa – can be a harmless piece of fun, but the results can also mess with our sense of the past
Risky business – why is New York getting rid of auction regulations?
The city claims that its decision to loosen the rules governing art auctions seeks to create a more consumer-friendly environment – but how can it?
The rise and fall of Chesterfield House
Once one of London’s most impressive private palaces, the house successfully melded a mix of architectural styles but this wasn’t enough to save it from its fate
Are frictions in Nigeria jeopardising the return of the Benin Bronzes?
With cracks appearing in the relationships of institutions in Nigeria, Barnaby Phillips wonders where the returned Benin Bronzes are going to end up
Why aren’t more women artists gazing at men?
There is no great tradition of male nudes by women artists, but this underlines an asymmetry of power rather than a lack of female desire
Is Tottenham Hotspur still clinging to the past?
Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium has just celebrated its third birthday but despite its shiny facade, the club still projects a message of continuity and tradition
Why was the Aztec god of war so keen on starfish?
The discovery of a ritual offering of 160 starfish and a jaguar skeleton to the Aztec god of war has got archaeologists excited to uncover its meaning
Philip Hewat-Jaboor was a champion of the decorative arts and generous mentor to many
Wolf Burchard pays tribute to the expertise and open-mindedness of the chairman of Masterpiece who was a pillar of the world of decorative arts
Is the art world’s talk of going green just a load of hot air?
Museums and galleries are keener than ever to display their environmental credentials – but words and deeds don’t always seem to match up
Has art writing made us forget how to think visually?
Lengthy exhibition texts, catalogues and essays are everywhere nowadays – but do they help us to see the art for what it really is?
Most popular
- Recent
- Recent
Podcast
![Masterpiece [Re]discovery 2022. Photo: Ben Fisher Photography, courtesy of Masterpiece London](http://www.apollo-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/MPL2022_4263.jpg)
There’s no need for the future of Clandon Park to be a restoration drama
Critics of the National Trust’s plan to keep the fire-gutted house as a ruin are ignoring the organisation’s history and that of the building itself