NewsMuseums & Heritage
Five years after Charlie Hebdo attack, France plans centre dedicated to satirical cartoons
In honour of the victims and to promote the medium, the French culture ministry will create "a meeting, training and exhibition place"
NewsPalais de Tokyo
Artists criticise Palais de Tokyo partnership with Qatari museum over LGBTQ rights
Mathaf's guest show at Paris contemporary art centre marks Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture
NewsPhotography
Double exposure: new Paris venue to unveil two historic photography collections
Exhibition space will show and sell digital reproductions of images from the archives of the Roger-Viollet agency and France-Soir newspaper
NewsRestitution
France promises to return 26 looted Benin artefacts by 2021 and opens talks on 'wider set of works'
But full restitution depends on changes to French law and the construction of new Benin museum
NewsOpenings
Revamped, renamed, reopened: Musée Ingres Bourdelle honours Montauban's masters
After €13m expansion, French museum brings together works by painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and sculptor Emile-Antoine Bourdelle
NewsMusee du Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac
Quai Branly to send fragment of feather belt worn by first King of Tahiti back to Polynesia
Rediscovered maro 'ura will go on show at Museum of Tahiti and the Islands on long-term loan from 2021
NewsMuseums
Strikes hit France: here are the museums that are affected
Several institutions have closed, others have cut back their opening times as protests against Macron's retirement reforms sweep the country
NewsArt market
Rare Tahitian painting by Gauguin sells for €9.5m at Artcurial in Paris
Te Bourao II, which went to an international collector, was on loan to the Met in New York for ten years
NewsExhibitions
Russia, Germany and France join forces for 'incomparable' travelling show of contemporary European art
Exhibition showing "unique slice" of art from Europe will coincide with the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
The French general’s advice to Notre Dame's chief architect: ‘Just shut up!’
A public spat between officials erupted this week in Paris over the reconstruction of the fire-ravaged cathedral and whether its historic spire should be restored as it was or a new spire built in its place
NewsSculpture
Antony Gormley in talks with French government over sculpture project in Brittany
Brexit is a disaster for the UK, says the sculptor as he unveils his Field for the British Isles installation at Firstsite gallery in Colchester
NewsArt crime
Painter linked to Old Master forgery case appeals arrest warrant
Italian court postpones decision over Lino Frongia's arrest and transfer to France until February
NewsLeonardo da Vinci
Green light for Leonardo's Vitruvian Man to go to Louvre
An Italian appellate court has overturned the ban on the loan of the celebrated drawing
NewsCentre Pompidou
Centre Pompidou to expand and move collections to new satellite venue in southern Paris
The “art factory” will be a conservation, exhibition and storage space and is expected to open in 2025
NewsMusée du Louvre
Louvre defends planned switch to timed-entry tickets after Mona Lisa 'pandemonium'
Reservations will become mandatory at the world's most visited museum by the end of the year
NewsPhotography
Test shot: Lille’s new photography institute prepares for 2021 launch
The new Institut pour la Photographie is backed by the annual photography festival Rencontres d’Arles
NewsObituaries
Jacques Chirac, former French president, dies, aged 86
The politician, who also served as prime minister and Paris mayor, championed the founding of the Musée du Quai Branly
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
It's official: French tycoons finalise €300m donations for fire-ravaged Notre Dame
Foundation secures funds from Bernard Arnault and François Pinault towards the reconstruction of the cathedral
NewsCultural exchange
Louvre secures key Italian loans for Leonardo retrospective
The Vitruvian Man—normally only shown for a few weeks every six years—will travel from Venice’s Gallerie dell'Accademia to Paris
NewsArt market
Pre-Columbian auction in Paris goes ahead in face of protest from Guatemala and Mexico
Although one Mayan relief was withdrawn, the Mexican government condemned the "illegal" sale but auctioneer Millon defends it as "perfectly legitimate"
NewsJeff Koons
Installation of Jeff Koons's controversial Bouquet of Tulips begins in Paris
The sculpture will now go on show near the Champs-Elysées, after previous location near the Palais de Tokyo was strongly opposed
NewsConservation
Isenheim altarpiece restorers invite visitors in
Laser imaging comes to aid of restoration of 16th-century paintings and sculptures
ReviewBook Shorts
The travel books of Eugène Delacroix have now been translated into English
These notebooks reveal how the artist discovered the "real" Orient in North Africa and southern Spain and adjusted his paintings accordingly
AnalysisCathedral of Notre Dame
New law regarding Notre Dame says restoration must preserve its 'historic, artistic and architectural interest'
But attempts in the senate to ensure it will look as before the fire were dropped from the final version
NewsAppointments & departures
Emma Lavigne lined up as new president of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris
Director of the Centre Pompidou-Metz would be first woman to hold the position
NewsRestitution
France retreats from report recommending automatic restitutions of looted African artefacts
Suggestions from controversial Savoy-Sarr report were all-but buried at a conference held in Paris
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Three become one: Montpellier Contemporain unites art school with exhibition venues
The newly created institution will involve all 200 students of the Montpellier School of Fine Arts
NewsOpenings
Bordeaux gets €60m Meca for creative industries
Bjarke Ingels-designed culture hub will be the new home of the Frac regional contemporary art centre
NewsPrizes
Franco-British charity Fluxus Art Projects flies flag for joint culture projects pre Brexit
Artists Lubaina Himid and Tarek Atoui receive funding awards
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Former Louvre director donates his collection to forthcoming museum devoted to the 'Sun King'
Pierre Rosenberg has pledged his collection of works by Charles Le Brun and other artists to the new museum
NewsMonuments
Designs for new D-Day monument in Normandy will go on sale at Masterpiece
David Williams-Ellis' sculpture for the British Normandy Memorial will be unveiled today by May and Macron
NewsArt market
More grief for Aristophil investors as French government seizes hundreds of documents
Around 18,000 people invested in the now bankrupted company's manuscripts collection, but state says many items of historical importance should never have been sold
News
Louvre is 'suffocating' with high volume of visitors, striking workers say
Paris museum closed its doors after union officials protest about angry public and poor security measures
Podcast
The Notre Dame fire: what happens next? Plus, Cold War Steve
We talk about the effects of the fire at Notre Dame, the building’s history, and what happens next. And we speak to satirical artist Christopher Spencer, the man behind Cold War Steve. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Artist Wim Delvoye enters design competition to reconstruct Notre Dame
The Belgian, known for his sculptures in a Northern European Gothic style, is already devising a new spire
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Precious works rescued from Notre Dame to be transferred to the Louvre
Crown of Thorns and St Louis tunic are among the artefacts to have been saved, while paintings inside the cathedral will be removed and restored
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Trump’s tweets on Notre Dame blaze fall foul of French fire officials
US President proposed water bombing the cathedral but this risks weakening the structure, say experts
AnalysisFrom the archive
Church and State disagree over management of religious heritage in France
The country possesses more than 32,000 churches, 6,000 chapels and 87 cathedrals. Their dual administration has caused serious problems of management and conservation
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Notre Dame will be rebuilt, President Macron confirms
As the extent of the damage continues to be assessed, investigation into cause of devastating fire begins
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Notre Dame benefits from the battle of the billionaires
Competitive philanthropy can help save France’s flagship cathedral
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Fire destroys roof of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris
The spire has collapsed on the medieval landmark
NewsProtest
Petition launched to remove 'racist' anti-slavery fresco in France's National Assembly
Artist Hervé Di Rosa describes the demand as "censorship"
NewsObituaries
French sculptor Claude Lalanne has died, aged 93
Her imaginative works inspired by flora and fauna sometimes carried a Surrealist touch
ReviewBook Shorts
William-Adolphe Bougeureau: tasteless, sentimental, soft-porny, but French above all
Book looks at the former official darling of the American republic
NewsArt market
Historic Bernheim-Jeune and Fine Art Society galleries shut up shop
A sign of the times, two of London and Paris’s oldest firms closed their premises in the traditional art heartlands of the cities
NewsTechnology
Paris digital art venue Atelier des Lumières is a hit, and expanding abroad
French museums operator Culturespaces has launched a space in South Korea and is planning another in Bordeaux in 2020
NewsConservation & Preservation
American donations shore up conservation efforts in France
From Paris to Chartres, US philanthropy makes its mark
NewsCaravaggio
French state rejects painting with controversial Caravaggio attribution that was found in an attic
Now the export ban has been lifted, the work may go on the market after restoration
NewsControversies
'Too conservative' to direct France's arts academy? Jean de Loisy hits back at critics
A petition protesting his appointment at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts has been signed by 60 arts professionals
NewsPolitics
Museums and auction houses close as 'yellow vest' protests rage in Paris
Jeu de Paume photography gallery and Arc de Triomphe caught up in violent demonstrations
ReviewBooks
Philippe Costamagna’s combination of autobiography, anecdote and single discovery told in his own words
The memoirs of the Pontormo expert and director of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Ajaccio
NewsCultural policy
'Give Africa its art back', Macron's report says
A new report on the status of African objects in French museums will urge the president to return works taken “without consent” in the colonial period
NewsRenaissance
Isenheim Altarpiece restoration finally back on track after public outcry
More than 30 conservators will treat paintings and sculptures, seven years after French culture ministry halted reckless cleaning of two panels
NewsDonations
Major coup for Paris’s Institut du Monde Arabe as it receives one of its biggest ever donations of works
Gallerist Claude Lemand and his wife France also set up a fund to support the museum
NewsPolitics
Emmanuel Macron woos French art world with call for new cultural policy that fights extremism
France's president also plans to install Modern and contemporary works at the Élysée Palace
NewsOpenings
A bigger splash: France's expanded La Piscine museum reopens after makeover
Former Art Deco swimming pool in Roubaix dives into Modern French sculpture
NewsPolitics
Franck Riester appointed as France’s new culture minister
Françoise Nyssen—who introduced a youth culture pass and lobbied for copyright reform—is out in cabinet reshuffle
NewsLaw
Paris court orders US collector to turn over Pissarro painting
The work, seized by the pro-Nazi Vichy government, had been lent to an exhibition at the Musée Marmottan
NewsArt market
Auction transfer season: Cécile Verdier of Sotheby's replaces Christie's France president, François de Ricqlès
Move follows a record-breaking breaking year for Paris auctions in 2017
NewsProtest
French court releases Russian protest artist Pyotr Pavlensky from pre-trial detention
Femen activists showed their support outside the courthouse by sewing their lips shut in a recreation of his first performance
NewsResidencies
Emmanuel Macron orders radical review of France’s art residencies
The French President has commissioned a report identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the current programmes
NewsArt market
Guy Wildenstein cleared of tax evasion for a second time in Paris
Franco-American scion of art dealing dynasty was accused of hiding art and other property worth hundreds of millions of euros from French authorities
InterviewLaure Prouvost
Trespassing allowed at Laure Prouvost's secret Parisian garden of delights
The french artist tells The Art Newspaper about her new Palais de Tokyo show, her Venice Biennale plans and why play is important
PreviewExhibitions
Unbridled enthusiasm for the art of horse racing on show in France
Exhibition at Domaine de Chantilly is the first on the development of the painting tradition
PreviewExhibitions
Ai Weiwei retraces his father's steps to Marseille in 1929 for new show
Chinese artists unveils new commissions alongside 50 works at the Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée
NewsExhibitions
Masterpieces from London's Courtauld Gallery head to Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris
Works by Manet, Van Gogh and Cézanne will return to France for the first time in more than 60 years
NewsOpenings
'A privileged space, remote from it all': Fondation Carmignac opens on island off the southern coast of France
New home for the Paris-based corporate collection, established by billionaire financier, is inaugurated after years of delays
CommentSaudi Arabia
Letter to the Editor: Saudi Arabia will collaborate with the world, not only France, to make its cultural heritage accessible
Al-Ula, the most important cultural heritage site in the north-west of the kingdom, will benefit from international standards in heritage preservation and planning
News
Can a brand new museum boost ancient Nîmes’s Unesco bid?
Musée de la Romanité, dedicated to the city's Roman history, cost almost €60m to build
NewsContemporary art
Controversial plans to install Jeff Koons's tulips sculpture in front of Palais de Tokyo in Paris abandoned
The work will be located elsewhere in Paris, French culture minister says
NewsExhibitions
Othoniel makes a splash in his hometown of Saint-Etienne
For its 30th anniversary, the Musée d’art moderne et contemporain invited the artist to show his monumental sculpture The Big Wave as part of a major retrospective
NewsComment
Why the French can sell arms and culture to Saudi Arabia, but the US and UK only arms
France's latest deal with the Kingdom reveals the close connection between culture and foreign affairs
NewsCultural policy
The blueprint for Saudi Arabia's multi-billion-euro project with France
We exclusively reveal the details of the plans for a “historic” collaboration
CommentSavoy/Sarr Report
One year after the Sarr-Savoy report, France has lost its momentum in the restitution debate
It recommended the restitution of African artefacts in French museums, but the country has not returned a single item to Africa
Alexander Herman