News
The largely forgotten cache of thousands of antiquities was taken by thieves months after the city was seized by rebel forces
Italian buyer has voluntarily relinquished the work
Specialists fear artist’s “smoky finish” effect may be harmed
Jonathan Zebina and Flavio Briatore deny knowing paintings may be forgeries
Chinese artist’s assistants warn of reprisals if he accepts invitation to rebuild wrecked Shanghai studio in Ghent
Government departments and agencies all deny The Burghers of Calais is theirs
Christie’s, Sotheby’s and eBay sued by leading artists and their heirs
Ruling on perishable items could affect art that is meant to decay
While some fear the negative effects of the closure of the vetting board, others say its role was not essential
Specialists fear artist’s “smoky finish” effect may be harmed
Ahmed Mater is condemned by online petition after his work is shown at museum on the “Green Line”
Questions raised about why politicians supported new Bosphorus event
Market
Call a specialist, you could get a commercial courier
Paris organisation to appeal the decision
Media has painted four defendants in fake art trial in a positive light
Contemporary market reassured by additions to public collections and big public shows
Dealers anxious as star buys prove few and far between
Richard Avedon proved ever-popular at New York auctions
The Old Masters and antiques fair was less cluttered, resulting in strong sales
Books
The cult of relics explored, explained and derided in a series of recent books
Two substantial books on the great British caricaturist, draughtsman and painter
This reassessment of John Atkinson Grimshaw’s reputation is overdue
A survey of Alex Webb’s 30-year career
The concluding part of Theodore Rabb’s consideration of the divergence of art in Flanders and the Dutch Republic
A study of Christian and Arab optics and symbolic forms
An illustrated 13th-century Arabic treatise addresses the inexplicable aspects of the Creation
An exhibition catalogue that largely focuses on artists with international profiles and sidesteps local controversies
The uses of giving in Islamic international diplomacy
A selection of western images made for The Thousand and One Nights
Contemporary photographers and 1990s artists
A description of the 10,000-volume collection of early records of encounters between Islam and Europe
Dubai aimed to rival Abu Dhabi as a cultural centre: this is why it did not happen
Comment
Some in the US museum world take the view that the Italian authorities should take advantage of the apparent truce
The ministry is now looking at ‘cryptic provenances’ such as ‘Swiss private collection, 1980s’
Funding England’s regional museums
Conservation
Chief conservator stresses need for continuity of funding after handover to local authorities
Device will streamline condition reports for museum objects
As with contemporary works of art, seals are often multimedia, making their conservation problematic
Demonstrations break out over plans to tear down the city’s historic buildings
Organisation aims to raise awareness
Exhibitions
After eight years, Islamic galleries reopen in New York
The Performa biennial features the work of more than 100 artists and aims to create full-bodied experiences
The arts of the Spanish New World
National Gallery show includes newly discovered painting
Lewis Carroll’s novels offer rich artistic inspiration
Saatchi’s German survey aims to reveal next generation
Flinders Petrie, the one-off archaeologist
Dutch museum reopens with Chinese loans
How Louis-Léopold Boilly escaped the guillotine
Pierre Jean Mariette’s noble collection reassembled
A celebration of the Japanese artist’s hot pink period
The $55m Amir Building opens with the artist’s Jewish works
The public programme includes a sculpture park and videos screened on Frank Gehry’s New World Center
Early Nasa photographs go on sale
Features
Sculpture is moving out of museums on a huge scale. After years of controversy, why is public art now so popular?
Outdoor art is coming to the bleakest, most remote regions of Norway in a multi-million-euro bid to boost cultural tourism
With a biennial, two shows and a knitwear range on the go, Liam Gillick talks about the lasting effect of his Goldsmiths years
He is stepping down from the art world the day his Guggenheim show opens. But is it just another prank?
Intimate portraits reveal Gerhard Richter to be highly self-critical, and William Turnbull to be an artist’s artist
TV series is a rapid survey of ceramics from the Middle Ages to Grayson Perry
Jarman prize goes to “activists”
Museums
Growing concerns over authenticity of Modigliani portrait on show in Moscow museum
US museum directors wrestle with the long-term consequences of artefacts acquired without watertight provenance
Opening soon: Alice Walton’s long-awaited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Museum fulfils abstract expressionist’s desire that his work, and his alone, be shown in perpetuity
Pop musician-aristocrat consigns paintings to Sotheby’s
Latest tests in the British Museum could fundamentally change our view of Aboriginal culture
Duke of Sutherland’s pictures are national galleries’ priority
Arts centre closes as its board and politicians fall out
Direction of double-headed leadership questioned
Museum relocation deadlocked as city parliament splits over controversial design
…and a work by Demand for revamped Städel
Government appoints museum director to oversee €150m cultural quarter
Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova opens this month
Spaces bloom and then wither as founders’ commitment quickly fades
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