Comment
Robert Jenrick wants to keep the mob at bay. So why is he leading it with a pitchfork?
The UK government’s proposal to protect every monument in sight is a kneejerk response that will have ridiculous consequences
The invasion of the Capitol fulfilled a warning from history – and will haunt us for years to come
The inauguration of Joe Biden as president marks a new chapter, but it won’t wipe out the ugly scenes of the storming of Congress
A Diego Rivera mural is the San Francisco Art Institute’s prize asset – but that doesn’t mean it should be sold
The work is central to the identity of the cash-strapped school
Can historic houses tell more stories than they have done?
All the evidence suggests that the real challenge for historic properties is to present a much fuller and more complex account of the past
‘These ancient rock paintings are unlikely to be about what was for dinner’
The meaning of tens of thousands of recently discovered rock paintings in Colombia will be a hotly debated topic for many years to come
Cold comfort forms – the plein-air painters who braved the winter
With many of us spending more time out-of-doors than usual this winter, it’s worth remembering that the Impressionists also had to put up with numb fingers and toes
How Naples made a saint of Maradona
Saints loom large in the streets of Naples – and now perhaps none more so than the legendary Napoli player
The medieval Armenian monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh must be protected
The region is full of important sites that have not yet been fully recorded or studied
Are the Old Masters more indispensable than ever?
Caroline Campbell and Michael Prodger consider the particular forms of escape that historic paintings can offer in uncertain times
Literary heroes are big business in Dublin – so why won’t the city protect its Joyce heritage?
The streets may be paved with commemorative plaques, but plans to convert 15 Usher’s Island into a hostel betray the city’s misplaced priorities
‘That hyena in petticoats’: how artists have portrayed Mary Wollstonecraft
The pioneering advocate for women’s rights has inspired many attempts to catch her likeness and spirit – but what can these portraits tell us about her legacy?
Curiosity about the cat – who drew a giant feline on a hillside in Peru?
The exciting recent discovery of a geoglyph in the Nazca desert poses many puzzles
Museums must rethink how they use their endowments – or they’ll struggle to rebuild after this crisis
Cultural institutions are hesitant to dip into their endowment funds to help them through the current crisis – but are they jeopardising future donations in not doing so?
The Royal College of Physicians’ plan to sell its rare books would be a serious medical error
A proposal to sell off ‘non-medical’ books in the institution’s library takes too narrow a view of the history of medicine
School visits to museums are vital – so let’s hope they can restart soon
Though inevitable, the suspension of school visits this year is a great loss – and a reminder of how important children are to the future of museums
Have corporate art collections had their day?
The financial impact of Covid-19 forced British Airways to sell some of its most valuable art over the summer. Will other businesses follow suit?
In defence of progressive deaccessioning
A recent spate of high-profile sales has reignited debates around deaccessioning and diversification
Is e-commerce the future for museum shops?
With far fewer in-person visitors exiting through the gift shop, institutions must find new ways to mitigate their losses
Has the British Museum finally found its voice?
With new labels for some of its most contested objects the museum is engaging in an important conversation – but has it got the tone wrong?
‘Setting people against objects makes for a grim discussion’
Museums face difficult financial choices, but there has to be a better way forward than the pitting of staff against permanent collections
The culture secretary has no business threatening museums
Oliver Dowden’s recent letter to museums about contested heritage is a clear breach of the ‘arms-length’ principle
In praise of Ryoji Koie, the enfant terrible of Japanese ceramics
The ceramic artist, who has died at the age of 82, took a playful and provocative approach to pottery
Enterprising spirit – how Terence Conran built his design empire
From his first Habitat shop on the Fulham Road to the Design Museum in Kensington – a celebration of the late designer’s many achievements
The art world put its weight behind Biden. Will he repay the favour?
The new administration is better disposed to the arts, but that doesn’t mean there’ll be more federal funding