France

A Van Gogh self-portrait goes to Wales

An American almost bought the painting for London’s National Gallery in 1924—but it sold to a French buyer and is now coming to the UK on loan

After two years of tremendous growth, France's art auction market is in decline

Overall auction results are strong—largely thanks to rise of second hand car purchases—but sales of fine art and antiques have fallen significantly from last year

New Notre Dame spire now topped with golden rooster

Unveiling marks milestone in reconstruction of ravaged cathedral

Right-wing veteran Rachida Dati appointed as France's new culture minister

Macron's appointment has taken the culture sector by surprise

Demolition of Marie Curie's Paris laboratory suspended at 11th hour

The move has been welcomed by heritage bodies, but scientists—including Curie's great-grandson—support the construction of a new research centre on the site

Jack Lang is re-elected chair of the Institut du Monde Arabe, securing his fourth term

The 84-year-old—the only candidate in the running— has extended a Palestinian culture season

France simplifies law on restitution of human remains

The prime minister can now approve the return of remains of up to 500 years old, without having to pass a special law

Renaissance nude painting row at French school sparks teacher walkout

Some students were reportedly “disturbed” by Giuseppe Cesari work which depicts bathing nymphs

Louvre raises ticket prices by 30% in Olympics year

The price increase will help to subsidise free entry for some visitors and regulate crowd size

President Macron confirms Notre Dame opening date plus plans for a new museum

While worshippers will be permitted to enter the cathedral by December 2024, a revamp of the surrounding area will continue

Colombian artist Daniel Otero Torres wins French art prize

CPGA-Etant donnés Prize is awarded to artists either from or working in France

Controversy swirls around Centre Pompidou ahead of 2025 closure

Talks between trade unions and the French culture ministry stall as workers fear for their future during the Paris museum’s five-year shutdown

Dealer and furniture expert to go on trial as part of longstanding investigation into forged French furniture

The trial is expected to offer unprecedented insights into the inner workings of the antique furniture market that once took pride of place at Paris's Biennale des Antiquaires

Eva Jospin follows in footsteps of Jeff Koons and Olafur Eliasson with a show at the Palace of Versailles

The French artist will display a tapestry more than 100 metres long inspired by Virginia Woolf

Art Basel increases security for Paris + fair following state of alert in France

Anti-ram barriers will be placed around the venue following a terrorist incident in France, linked to Israel-Hamas war

Material from Christo's wrapped Arc de Triomphe to be recycled for Paris Olympics in 2024

Paris mayor describes project as “a very fine example of the art world’s ability to adapt to climate challenges”

France suspends cultural cooperation with three West African countries

France's culture minister said the country “never boycotts artists”, but artists and performers from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso will no longer be granted visas

Trial of Parisian antiques dealer accused of forging French furniture delayed due to ill health

93-year-old Jean Lupu, who allegedly faked 17th- and 18th-century royal furniture, and his wife say they are unable to stand trial due to illness and stress

Beyond Picasso: the other Guernicas are brought together for exhibition in northern France

Artist responses to the 1937 bombing in the Basque Country include René Iché's disturbing sculpture and a piece by protégé of Henri Matisse

June trial date set for Russian artist who leaked sex video of President Emmanuel Macron’s ‘right-hand man’

Pyotr Pavlensky created his Pornopolitics work in response to the video and now faces up to two years in prison for publishing sexual content without the participants' consent

Joana Vasconcelos's towering tree sculpture springs into life at French château

"Tree of Life" is made of 110,000 fabric pieces crafted during lockdown from materials that were already in the artist's studio

France's long-awaited restitution policy is finally here

Guidelines for returning objects looted from former colonies and during the Nazi period are laid out in a report commissioned by Emmanuel Macron and written by former Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez

Gauguin, Renoir and Cézanne works restituted by Musée d'Orsay head to auction at Sotheby's

Four works recently returned to heirs of the influential French dealer Ambroise Vollard will go under the hammer in New York next month

First Saudi, now Seoul: Centre Pompidou confirms latest move of global expansion

Paris-headquartered museum brand will open its South Korean outpost in 2025

Notre Dame to reopen in December 2024

Though the Parisian cathedral's nave is expected to reopen to the public by the end of 2024, work to restore the entire site could last until 2028

Van Gogh painted his lyrical Almond Blossom to herald the coming of spring

This picture was given to hang above his two-week-old nephew’s crib—and later survived raucous pillow fights

'Fatal for the French art market': dealers decry new EU sales tax that could wipe out Paris's booming commercial scene

The directive will make selling art in France much more expensive—and imperil its post-Brexit position as the EU's market hub

Musée D'Orsay ordered by Paris court to return four masterpieces by Renoir, Cézanne and Gauguin stolen during Second World War

The works were owned by influential French dealer Ambroise Vollard and will be returned to his heirs