BlogDiary of an art historian
UK national museums could learn a lot from their regional cousins
When it comes to having a historian rummaging in their stores, smaller institutions tend to be more enthusiastic and accommodating
NewsDiscoveries
Revealed: the story behind the Gauguin paintings buried with a young boy in Tahiti
The artist befriended the child of his neighbours, and had given two paintings for the boy’s nursery
NewsDiscoveries
Sotheby's to offer newly discovered Mantegna drawing
Preparatory sketch for The Triumph of Caesar will go on sale in New York in January
BlogAdventures with Van Gogh
Uncovered: Van Gogh's first art teacher
First photo discovered of Anna Birnie, of Scottish descent, who served as a young governess for eight-year-old Vincent
NewsDiscoveries
'True Rembrandt relic' discovered in cesspit below artist's house
Clay pot used by Old Master to paint is now on show in Amsterdam's Rembrandt House Museum
BlogAdventures with Van Gogh
New discoveries: Paul Signac painted watercolours of Van Gogh’s asylum
Signac, who offered to fight a duel over the Sunflowers, pays homage to his Dutch friend
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Possible unmapped chambers discovered near Tutankhamun’s tomb
Researchers have found two anomalies in Egypt's Valley of the Kings
NewsDiscoveries
Hidden Cupid resurfaces in one of Vermeer’s best-known works after two and a half centuries
Laboratory tests revealed "sensational" discovery that the figure in Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window was overpainted decades after the artist’s death
NewsLeonardo da Vinci
Portrait sketch of Leonardo da Vinci discovered in Britain’s Royal Collection
The drawing, believed to be one of only two contemporary images of the artist, will go on show for the first time at the Queen’s Gallery in London
NewsBrazil
Archaeological trove discovered beneath zoo heads to Rio de Janeiro’s National Museum
More than 30,000 imperial artefacts were found in the nearby RioZoo last week
NewsDiscoveries
Anthony Caro's drawings corrected by Henry Moore to go on show for first time
Exhibition at East Gallery of Norwich University of the Arts aims to demonstrate the relationship between the two artists
BlogAdventures with Van Gogh
Fake no more: poppy painting in US museum is by Van Gogh—and has a surprise under the surface
Still life at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, is authenticated after decades hidden in storage
NewsLeonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci's thumbprint discovered on drawing in Royal Collection
The mark is “the most convincing candidate for an authentic Leonardo fingerprint” among the Queen’s 550 works by the great artist
BlogAdventures with Van Gogh
Who painted the mystery nude in the Van Gogh brothers' collection?
Museum specialist believes he has uncovered the identity of the artist—and his voluptuous muse
NewsDeaccessioning
Revealed: marquess of Northampton tried to buy Sekhemka statue before it was controversially sold off by UK museum
Ancient Egyptian sculpture was almost bought by the 7th marquess, whose predecessor donated it to the local museum in the 19th century
NewsDiscoveries
Did Pieter Bruegel the Elder create the earliest Scottish landscape?
Coastal rock formation in 16th-century engraving resembles the famous Bass Rock at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, art historian argues
BlogAdventures with Van Gogh
Mistaken identity: new discovery means there is only one known photograph of Vincent van Gogh
The childhood image that was assumed to be of Vincent is now believed to depict his brother Theo
NewsDiscoveries
Courbet's model for the Origin of the World discovered
It is now “99% certain” that dancer Constance Quéniaux is depicted in the infamous nude
NewsDiscoveries
Painting of courtesan by Kitagawa Utamaro—who influenced the Impressionists—goes on show for first time
Hanging scroll by the shunga master will be displayed in the British Museum’s revamped Japanese galleries
NewsConservation & Preservation
Relic of first-century pope found in a rubbish tip is donated to Westminster Cathedral
Rubbish collectors found the bone fragment of Clement I in London
NewsDiscoveries
Newly discovered Michaelina Wautier painting added to first major show on Baroque’s forgotten female master
And experts are convinced that “many more works will pop up”
NewsAuctions
Tom Thomson sketch hidden in Canadian basement sells for C$480,000 at auction, more than double its high estimate
The work’s owner, a retired nurse, chose not to attend the sale in person due to nerves “in case it was worth something”
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Man decapitated while fleeing volcano’s destruction of Pompeii
Excavation tells a poignant story of an unfortunate Roman
NewsDiscoveries
Emperor Constantine's giant finger found in the Louvre
Ancient object—initially believed to be a toe—perfectly fits the hand of ancient bronze statue in Rome's Musei Capitolini
NewsAuctions
Stored in a basement, Canadian woman’s painting turns out to be Tom Thomson sketch
The work is due to be auctioned in Toronto with a high estimate of $135,000—and will fund a Mediterranean cruise for the owner and her friend