NewsMuseums
Louvre and French museums close, while German museums await clarity in second coronavirus lockdown
Closing German museums would be “a hard blow for the institutions and society,” the country's museums association says
NewsFrance
Congolese activist fined €1,000 for trying to seize African funeral pole from Paris museum
Emery Mwazulu Diyabanza and the other activists who removed the object from display at the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac say their actions are a protest against colonial looting
NewsRestitution
France’s National Assembly votes to return colonial-era artefacts to Benin and Senegal
Accelerated bill enabling restitution of 27 objects from French museums passes first vote in parliament
NewsAfrican art
Trial of Quai Branly protestors in Paris centres on ‘political’ aspect of activist action
Court erupts after attendee shouts that African funeral pole "belongs to us"
NewsRestitution
France ordered to return three Derain paintings to heirs of Jewish dealer René Gimpel
Ruling by Paris court of appeal sets an important precedent for pending restitution claim over 16 paintings in French museum collections
NewsFashion
How about an €8m Chanel makeover? Paris fashion museum reopens with help of luxury brand
Palais Galliera opens its doors during a hybrid physical and digital Paris fashion week with a major Chanel exhibition
NewsMuseums
Plans for world's biggest Picasso museum in south of France scuppered
Aix-en-Provence city council says that sale fell through after negotiations with artist’s stepdaughter broke down
NewsOpenings
Pack your goggles! France to open three underwater sculpture parks this autumn
Visitors will need to swim to see new exhibits submerged off the coast of Corsica, Marseille and Cannes
NewsHeritage
Vandals smash statue of Mary Magdalene in French chapel—apparently because she is naked
A note was left at the scene by the perpetrators saying they “did not accept” that the saint should be “represented in such a way”
News
French photographers demand President Macron puts his arts pandemic plan into practice
Signatories say that a ‘new deal’ is needed in France, enabling photojournalists to document the epidemic
NewsDisasters & destruction
Security questions remain after Nantes cathedral blaze: 'There's no European country where church fires are this common'
An arson investigation has been launched into the fire at the Gothic St Peter and St Paul Cathedral in western France
NewsRestitution
France takes first legal step towards restitutions to Benin and Senegal as cabinet examines new law
Twenty-six objects looted from Abomey Palace to return to Benin, Omar Tall’s sword to be transferred to Senegal
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Notre Dame's spire to be rebuilt the way it was—but use of lead likely to spark new controversy
French President Macron makes u-turn after first suggesting the 19th-century spire, which was destroyed in the fire last year, should be replaced by a contemporary design
NewsMuseums
Musée Rodin in Paris casts new bronzes to offset losses from Covid-19 crisis
With an estimated shortfall of €4.4m in revenue, the museum is looking to "increase the offer and opportunities for sales to new markets"
NewsFrance
Roselyne Bachelot is France’s new culture minister
The former health and ecology minister shares a passion for opera with newly appointed Prime Minister Jean Castex
InterviewAppointments & departures
'The show must go on': new Rencontres d’Arles director promises 'less is more' approach after pandemic scuppers this year's edition
Head-hunted from Paris Photo, Christoph Wiesner will begin role as Luma Foundation officially opens its headquarters in the French city
NewsArt market
American collector to sue France over restitution of $1.7m Pissarro painting
Real estate developer Bruce Toll claims compensation after French High court confirms return of Pissarro's Pea Harvest to heirs of collector Simon Bauer
NewsAntiquities & Archaeology
Paris dealer who sold golden sarcophagus to New York’s Metropolitan Museum charged with fraud and money laundering
The work was returned to Egypt last year after officials were shown evidence it might have been looted during the Arab Spring in 2011
NewsAntiquities
Former Louvre curator among five arrested in Paris in antiquities trafficking investigation
Case involves "hundreds of objects worth millions" looted from the Near and Middle East
NewsMonuments
Artist of African descent must create France's new slavery memorial, campaign group says
Culture ministry launches open call for monument that will be sited near the Musée du Louvre
NewsMuseums
French museums reveal plans to re-open in June and July
Louvre is "is working towards a planned reopening on 6 July" with strict rules for social distancing and 70% of the museum open to the public
Newscoronavirus
Five European museum directors explain their reopening strategies
From capped visitor numbers to surgical gloves and temperature checks, here's how cultural institutions are getting ready to leave lockdown
NewsArt market
Strong sales as France restarts live auctions
Artcurial, the first auction house to reopen, doubled its sale estimate as lockdown seems to have "sharpened" buyers' appetite
NewsBiennials & festivals
‘In two and a half years, who knows where the world will be’—Lyon Biennale curators reveal why exhibition was pushed back from 2021 to 2022
Pressure on resources play a part as well as ethical issues in the wake of coronavirus
NewsFrance
Amidst fierce criticism, Emmanuel Macron announces plans to help France's culture sector during the pandemic
French president says artists will be invited into schools and asked to create new commissions, but many art professionals say it is not enough
NewsControversies
Director of France’s national furniture collection defends plans to sell 100 items at auction to aid healthcare workers
Move prompts fears that works from national museum collections could be sold off too
NewsMuseums & Heritage
Lockdown drives digital boom at French museums—but where's the business model?
Podcasts, social media channels and virtual exhibitions are experiencing unprecedented traffic but do not make up for lost revenue
Newscoronavirus
French galleries and 'small museums' to reopen in stages from 11 May
Larger museums are unlikely to be accessible until June
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Germany offers help in restoring Notre Dame's stained-glass windows
German cathedral glass workshops have the expertise and experience necessary to undertake the restoration
FeatureCathedral of Notre Dame
Anniversary of Notre-Dame fire: it's safe, but big decisions need to be taken as Covid-19 halts restoration
Rebuilding the roof will be among the main challenges, and the reconstruction of the spire will be among the most controversial
NewsFrance
French organisations create artists' funds and support for summer festivals
The culture ministry and southwest region provides grants for projects, while Paris-based collector Antoine de Galbert appeals to private donors through his foundation
NewsArt market
One third of French galleries could shut before end of 2020 due to coronavirus impact
Survey issued by the Comité professionnel des galeries d'art reveals the economic damage already done, with members estimating a total loss of €184m for this quarter
NewsAuctions
Charity auction raises more than €2m for French healthcare workers
Paris-based auction house Piasa hosted online sale of 370 works donated by artists, designers and galleries
NewsArt market
La Biennale Paris relies on government funding bailout to support dealers during coronavirus crisis
Exhibitors at the art and antiques fair in September will not have to pay the usual advance deposit and allowed to spread out payment over four months
Newscoronavirus
Patrick Devedjian—French politician and driving force behind new museum dedicated to the Sun King—has died of coronavirus
Devedjian was leading plans for a museum project in Saint-Cloud, west of Paris, about the reign of Louis XIV
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Thieves arrested for stealing stones from Notre Dame in Paris
Drunk perpetrators may have wanted to sell the items on the black market
NewsCathedral of Notre Dame
Notre Dame reconstruction halted because of stringent coronavirus measures
Plans to remove the scaffolding around the fire-damaged cathedral have been put on hold
Newscoronavirus
France’s culture minister tests positive for Covid-19
Franck Riester was due to meet with representatives from the country’s arts and culture spaces about the impact of the coronavirus epidemic, but is now resting at home
NewsMusee d'Orsay
Anonymous €20m donation kickstarts Musée d’Orsay transformation
Radical revelopment of former train station building will make way for more Impressionist works and visitors
NewsVirtual Reality
Google unlocks prehistoric art of France’s Chauvet cave
One of the world's oldest rock art sites is now accessible through virtual reality
NewsArt market
Old Master scandal: Italy rejects European arrest warrant for painter connected to forgery case
Lino Frongia was arrested in September as part of a major investigation involving works purportedly by Lucas Cranach, Frans Hals, Parmigianino, Gentileschi and Bronzino
Newscoronavirus
Coronavirus: Louvre closes while Italian museums reopen following government green light
Italian officials say cultural institutions can open to the public so long as they ensure “visitors respect a distance of at least a metre between each other”
NewsLaw
France reconfirms that women baring their breasts in public is illegal—even for artists and protestors
Two women who are part of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen were charged for topless protests, one of which was in a Paris museum
NewsClaude Monet
Monet for nothing: Musée Marmottan’s ‘self-portrait’ is downgraded
After a long-running debate, the picture, going on show at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam today, has been attributed to Charles Giron
NewsControversies
Embroiled in Palestine row, artist Zineb Sedira says she will not stand down as France’s representative at 2021 Venice Biennale
Pro-Israel arts group protested to French culture ministry about her appointment
NewsMusée du Domaine Royal de Marly
Decadence of Sun King’s pleasure palace revealed at reopened museum near Versailles
Musée du Domaine Royal de Marly is dedicated to the château where Louis XIV partied with his favoured courtiers
NewsVenice Biennale 2021
Zineb Sedira to represent France at 2021 Venice Biennale
The artist is the first of Algerian descent to be selected by France for the international exhibition, according to Le Monde
NewsForgeries
Alleged Bronzino seized from the Alana Collection in connection with ongoing Old Master scandal
French customs officials have barred the return of Saint Cosmos to the US following its inclusion in a show at the Jacquemart André Museum in Paris
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
ArchiveMuseums & Heritage
A missing chapter in the history of the decorative arts: the Restoration and July Monarchy
Louvre-organised show at the Grand Palais of neglected period of production
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
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