Parisians were outraged to discover the theft of a Banksy mural commemorating the victims of the Bataclan massacre on Saturday (26 January 2019). Continue reading
Category: Art News
New Oscar de la Renta boutique boasts hidden 17th century masterpiece
A family of mice buried in the walls or some untreated woodworm in the basement. Just a few nasty discoveries you might make when moving into a new house. Sometimes, you can strike it rich like luxury fashion brand Oscar de la Renta, which discovered a 17th century painting hidden behind the walls of its new store in Paris. Continue reading
The time when Turner trumped Constable
Two paintings by titans of the British art world have been reunited in London after 187 years. Continue reading
Welsh Banksy owner worn out by tourist hordes
The owner of a garage in Wales on which a Banksy mural appeared just before Christmas said he is overwhelmed by the number of tourists who have descended on the site to view the artwork. Continue reading
Home for the holidays: Hope for return of stolen Caravaggio in time for Christmas
New evidence has emerged, which suggests a missing Nativity masterpiece by Caravaggio could soon be returning to Sicily. Theories abound as to the disappearance of ‘Nativity With Saints Lawrence and Francis’ (1609) from the Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo in 1969. The latest version of the story was announced by Rosy Bindi, president of Italy’s parliamentary Antimafia Commission earlier this year. According to investigators, testimony from a member of Sicilian criminal organisation, Cosa Nostra, indicates the stolen masterpiece was taken to an art dealer in Switzerland who sold it off in pieces. They have followed this lead to eastern Europe and now believe they can recover the Nativity soon. Continue reading
Will proposed reforms to the export licensing system save more treasures for the nation?
In a bid to save more national art treasures from leaving the country, the UK government has announced plans to strengthen the export licensing system. Continue reading
Easter Island Mayor surprises by opposing return of stolen statue
Keep the statue you stole from us 150 years ago, the Mayor of Easter Island has told London’s British Museum. Continue reading
Goods mortgages – an explosion in art-lending? – Update
The Goods Mortgages Bill was introduced as a private member’s bill yesterday (29 November) by Lord Stevenson. Continue reading
Artist plans to whitewash a Banksy following half million pound sale
A month since a Banksy self-destructed after passing under the hammer at Sotheby’s, another work by the elusive street artist has sold for £561,000 (including buyer’s premium) to a buyer who has vowed to whitewash it. Continue reading
Jewish art dealer’s descendants refuse to buy back Nazi-looted portrait
“We want our looted work back. Full stop”, the descendant of Jewish art dealer and victim of Nazi spoliation, Paul Rosenberg, has told the New York Times. Continue reading
