Features
Behind the mask – the meaning of masquerade in West Africa
Kevin Dumouchelle of the National Museum of African Art explains what a fearsome 19th-century ceremonial mask meant to its makers in Côte d’Ivoire
Acquisitions of the month: August 2024
A Madonna of the Cherries by Quentin Metsys and a very rare sketchbook by Caspar David Friedrich are among the most important works to have entered public collections in the last month
Bringing Pompeii back to life
Recent conservation efforts have led to new discoveries of stunning interiors and wall paintings that also tell us more about everyday life in the city
The surreal films of Jan Švankmajer
When it comes to conjuring the uncanny atmosphere and impossible logic of dreams, the Czech film-maker has few equals
Message on a bottle – the Australian vineyard giving a boost to local art
This dynamic young wine producer was quick to become a corking success – and is making sure artists from the region are in on the fun
The favourite fabric of the French elite
The printed, patterned cloth called toile de Jouy was at its height of its popularity in the 18th century, but still delights today
The French Renaissance palace putting Brueghel and Braque side by side
The renovated Fondation Bemberg in Toulouse is a fitting home for its founder’s eclectic art collection
The intoxicating adverts of Armando Testa
The Italian artist had no shortage of spirited designs for corporate brewers and distillers keen to convey the essence of their products
The ulterior motifs of Aby Warburg
A new life of a very singular art historian places his work in the intellectual contexts of his time
How the Hirshhorn Museum stays ahead of the curve
The modernist building houses many significant works, but it’s the museum’s canny marketing and astute navigation of choppy political climates that really set it apart as it celebrates its 50th anniversary
‘I know exactly what I am looking for’ – Helen Hamlyn on collecting with purpose
The philanthropist’s pursuits range from collecting Asian art to restoring ruined buildings
Stitches in time – how a Jacobean doublet pads out our sense of the past
At Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, the restoration of a rare piece of male dress allows us to appreciate 17th-century craftsmanship in more detail
The Italian wines that look as good as they taste
A series of artist-designed bottles produced by an innovative Tuscan winery wouldn’t be out of place in a gallery
The joyous art of fancy Victorian ices
Modern creations may offer a riot of flavours but in form they’re no match for the fantastical shapes of the past
The best cellars are like museums of fine wine
Underground storage can be dark and sinister, but when it’s used for wine, it can become a place of deep pleasure
France chases the Olympic dream
As the Olympic Games arrive in Paris, two exhibitions shine a light on overlooked aspects of competitive sport
A Madonna pregnant with meaning
Most paintings of the Virgin Mary show her holding the divine infant, but a 14th-century panel by Cenni di Francesco reminds us of more earthy realities
Acquisitions of the month: June 2024
A tender portrait by Gauguin of his young son and a bronze lion by Rembrandt Bugatti are among the most significant works to have entered a public collection in the last month
On the road with Ed Ruscha
The artist laureate of Los Angeles also draws on the everyday junk of Southern California to embellish the myth of a city nestled between the ocean and the desert
Chardin’s strawberries are ripe for reappraisal this summer
The artist’s ability to stop time is on full display in a painting that was recently acquired by the Louvre and is now touring France
When fashion resists interpretation
Peter Hujar and Paul Thek offer a lesson in the art of appreciation at Loewe’s menswear show in Paris
Birmingham’s Barber Institute is getting more cutting-edge
Midway through a major refurbishment, the Institute is still managing to thrive at a challenging time for UK museums
Model behaviour – how life drawing is making a comeback at the Royal Academy
Drawing models in the flesh has been in and out of fashion over the centuries, but the London institution’s postgrad programme is breathing new life into the practice
The Flemish tapestry that takes us into the heart of a decisive battle
Nancy E. Edwards of the Kimbell Art Museum explains how a magnificent tapestry by Bernard van Orley re-enacts the Battle of Pavia
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