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Pilgrims’ progress? The Vatican Jubilee has frustrated Romans and tourists alike
Preparations for this 700-year-old tradition, which ushers in a special year of forgiveness for Catholics, are nearing completion. Will it all be worth it?
What painters and anatomists have in common
A show of surgical paintings by Celia Hempton raises questions about how far the artist’s eye can penetrate beneath the surface of things
Martha Stewart’s recipe for success
Edward Behrens explores the ingredients for achieving in the art world
Seeing London through Frank Auerbach’s eyes
The late painter’s untamed depictions of the city are some of the most exciting works of art produced in Britain in the 20th century
Are the art market’s problems being blown out of proportion?
Recent results for the London auctions may be a sign that things aren’t all doom and gloom
How to paint with real freedom
Artists from Helen Frankenthaler to Marlene Dumas have poured and splattered paint on to their canvases with a sense of enviable abandon
Is the Stirling Prize suffering from a case of tunnel vision?
The Elizabeth Line is a worthy winner, but the award’s annual attempt to shame policymakers into requiring more from the UK construction industry is doomed to fail
‘One of the most attractive green spaces in central London’
Gray’s Inn Gardens forms part of a vista that has been threatened by developers more than once, but still provides a much-needed haven
Crafting value in Venice
The Homo Faber art fair featured a bounty of contemporary crafts, but were the finer details in danger of getting lost with so much on display?
The many faces of Mary Magdalene
From penitent saint to salacious sinner, the biblical figure has worn a number of different guises in art through the ages
Is Labour’s arts policy a case of warm words, no cold hard cash?
The UK culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, spoke of the importance of the arts at Labour Party Conference, but the sector needs more than good vibes
Master of art – the towering legacy of David Sylvester
Born 100 years ago this month, the critic exerted an outsize influence on artists and tastemakers alike – and he still has much to teach us
Is investing in the past the way of the future?
A new report by Historic England claims that investing in heritage will boost the economies of struggling English towns – but how reliable are the means of measurement?
In praise of the cat ladies of contemporary art
Hettie Judah considers how artists such as Tracey Emin and Kiki Smith have represented the sacred bond between women and their cats
Are commercial galleries getting tired of visitors?
Some of the major galleries are cutting public-facing jobs, but making their physical and virtual sites less approachable could have unintended consequences
What are art fairs really for?
Piling into an exhibition hall to see as much art as possible in a short space of time is few people’s idea of a good time, but the most resourceful fairs provide some worthwhile surprises
It’s time for the government of London to return to its rightful home
Norman Foster’s City Hall has been denied listed status a second time. But the more important question is: when will the capital be run from County Hall again?
Notre-Dame shows that there is nothing permanent about stained glass
The controversial proposal to put contemporary stained glass into the cathedral is part of a centuries-long debate about a surprisingly mutable material
Lust for life – the art of Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland
Pleasure is a point of principle at Studio Voltaire’s exhibition of works by the two artists
The dealers who are turning art fairs into more domestic affairs
Jeffrey Deitch’s pleasingly homely booth at Art Basel this year reflects the tastes of a new generation of buyers – but is the loss of connoisseurship a price worth paying?
Do any political parties have a vision for the arts?
Power is set to change hands next month in Downing Street, but whether that will be enough to fix Britain’s funding of the arts is another matter
Should UK museums start charging entry fees again?
Keeping the national museums free to enter comes with significant hidden costs, but admission fees are not the answer
Why London’s auction houses are feeling so flat
With cancelled sales and market uncertainty, Christie’s and Sotheby’s have been taking hammer blows in recent months – but it’s not just a London problem
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What happens when an artist wants to be anonymous?
An Austrian museum is hosting a show by an unnamed artist – but perhaps this act of secrecy will help us see the work more clearly