Features
In praise of Grinling Gibbons, the wizard of woodcarving
The sculptor took Restoration England by storm with his virtuosic woodwork
Bellotto’s views of Dresden tell a tale of two cities
Through the Italian painter’s eyes, the German city became both an idealised version of itself and a surrogate for his native Venice
Talking heads: the prattling paintings of Renaissance England
Why do paintings and objects from the Tudor and Stuart periods have so much to say for themselves?
Will Wembley’s art trail make it any more welcoming?
An art trail at Wembley Park won’t change the behaviour of football fans – but the best works here are at least sensitive to their surroundings
Towering over the Thames, a heavenly new home for Lambeth Palace Library
One of the world’s greatest collections of medieval manuscripts now has state-of-the-art accommodation, writes Michael Prodger
Going to the doge’s – the Palazzo Grimani puts on a powerful display
At the Palazzo Grimani, more classical sculptures can now be seen in the splendid rooms in which they were once displayed
Flight of fancy – the spectacle of the Spanish Steps
Sitting on the steps is now forbidden – but for centuries, the monumental staircase has been one of Rome’s most theatrical attractions
Roped in: the acrobatic builders repairing Italy’s historic domes and bridges
A troupe of nimble-footed technicians has been drafted in to restore monuments up and down the country – without a scaffold in sight
Aesthetic prowess: the artists who competed for Olympic gold
The early Olympic games of the modern era set out to celebrate both ‘muscle and mind’ – which meant that artists were in the mix for medals
Bourse majeure – François Pinault’s palace of art
The former stock exchange building in Paris has been filled with blue-chip art from the French billionaire’s collection
Food for thought at the Museum of the Home
With Apollo’s food column to fill, Thomas Marks heads to the reimagined museum in East London to inspect its kitchens
Four sports that have produced some half-decent art
Sport nowhere for most of last year – and now sport everywhere. But there is some passable sport art out there, we promise…
Pulling power – the murky magic of magnet fishing
It’s the aquatic cousin to metal detecting – and an increasing number of devotees are casting off into rivers and canals in search of trash and treasure
Emmanuel Macron wants every teenager in France to go on a cultural shopping spree – but will they?
Every 18 year old in France has been given €300 to spend on culture
Period drama: do country house exhibitions need a shake-up?
Museums might be better at bringing the contents of grand historic piles to life than the houses themselves
Michael Ayrton was a maker of minotaurs – and is himself a forgotten giant
The British artist’s scope and influence have long been neglected – but at the centenary of his birth, will a pair of exhibitions turn the tide?
The frozen dinners of Daniel Spoerri
The Swiss artist’s tableaux of tables capture the joys of dining in good company
For Kurdish artists in Turkey, simply making work is a political act
Works produced in prison by the artist Fatos Irwen speak to the increasingly repressive climate for Kurds in Turkey
Scents and sensibility: why smell counts in art
The visual arts have often toyed with odours and smells, however challenging they are to represent
‘The greatest story of gluttony’ – on the genius of Eric Carle, creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The much-loved author cut his teeth on illustrations for medical ad campaigns – which proved ideal training for the world of children’s books
All art is for children – and great art can make children of us all
Modern masters from Joseph Cornell to Paul Klee have produced works expressly for children, writes Ben Street – but perhaps all great art is a type of child’s play?
On the Grand Canal, this crumbling Venetian palazzo has been given a new lease of life
The Palazzo Vendramin Grimani has opened with a display that reunites some of the paintings it was once home to – plus a helping of contemporary art
Raising the curtain on early Klimt
An early commission by the painter for a public theatre in Rijeka is the subject of a major display in the city this summer
An audience with the Qianlong Emperor, via the small screen
The meticulous attention to Chinese decorative arts is as great a draw as the court intrigue in ‘Story of Yanxi Palace’
Crafting value in Venice