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Smart News / Smart News Arts & Culture

The violin was made in Italy in the early 18th century.

This Storied Stradivarius Violin Made in 1714 Just Sold for Over $11 Million at Auction

The instrument was owned by a notable 19th-century Hungarian violinist

Victoria and Albert had a real spark between them—an anomaly in an age of dynastic marriages.

On This Day in History

One of Britain’s Most Beloved Royal Couples Wed on This Day in 1840

Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert popularized white wedding dresses. Later, her mourning of his passing cemented the image of a grieving widow in black

The painting measures less than 15 inches tall and just over 5 inches wide. The verso of the panel includes part of a Marian prayer.

See the Miniature Portrait of Mary Magdalene That Raphael Painted When He Was Only 20

Created around 1503, the painting—which just sold at auction for $3.1 million—depicts the saint after the crucifixion of Jesus, when she entered a period of repentance

The Struggle Against Terrorism, a 1,000-square-foot mural by Philip Gluston and Reuben Kadish, before the restoration

See a Controversial Anti-Fascist Mural From the 1930s Returned to Its Former Glory

Titled “The Struggle Against Terrorism,” the 1,000-square-foot artwork suffered from neglect for 90 years. Now, conservators have unveiled the newly restored mural in Mexico

Two Human Beings (The Lonely Ones) (1906-08), one of the highlights of the recent donation to the Harvard Art Museums

Sixty-Four Stunning Artworks by Famed ‘Scream’ Painter Edvard Munch Are Heading to Harvard

The extensive collection shows how the Norwegian painter tweaked his techniques and reworked his aesthetic sensibilities over and over again

The Brook, Frits Thaulow, 1875/1906

Dozens of Artworks Rescued From War-Torn Ukraine Go on Display in Berlin

A new collaborative exhibition showcases 60 breathtaking pieces that were evacuated from the Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art

The hunk weighs a whopping five pounds and measures more than six inches long.

Cool Finds

A Five-Pound Hunk of the World’s Oldest Known Synthesized Pigment Was Found in Nero’s Palace

The discovery might illuminate the link between the blue pigment’s ancient Egyptian roots and its rediscovery by Renaissance artists centuries later

Marilyn Monroe performs in front of service members in Korea in 1954.

On This Day in History

The Wartime Organization That Brought Hollywood Stars Like Marilyn Monroe and Nancy Sinatra to the Front Lines to Entertain the Troops

Established on this day in 1941, the United Service Organizations offers wholesome entertainment options to off-duty service members

Experts think the sketch dates to between 1809 and 1814.

A Stunning John Constable Sketch That Hadn’t Previously Been Recorded in the Literature Is Heading to Auction

Experts think the early 19th-century artwork could be an early draft of the British painter’s “View of Dedham Vale From East Bergholt”

Edmond Dédé, a talented composer who is finally getting his due

One of the Oldest Surviving Operas by a Black American Composer Will Be Performed for the First Time—138 Years After It Was Written

Edmond Dédé’s 1887 magnum opus “Morgiane”—billed as “the most important opera never heard”—will finally get its premiere after languishing in obscurity for more than a century

Big Ears by artist Joe Halko

This Man Says He’s the Mysterious ‘Googly-Eye Bandit’ in Bend, Oregon

Jeff Keith, a longtime resident and nonprofit founder, says he used duct tape to affix googly eyes to two public sculptures last month

The painting is signed "Elimar" in its bottom right corner.

New Research

Someone Bought This Painting at a Garage Sale for $50. Experts Say It’s a Lost van Gogh Worth $15 Million

The portrait of a fisherman was found in Minnesota by an anonymous collector. A new analysis has concluded that it could be the real deal

 French President Emmanuel Macron announced the move this week.

The ‘Mona Lisa’ Is Moving to a Room of Her Own at the Louvre

As part of a massive renovation, the Leonardo da Vinci portrait will get its own gallery space accessible from a separate entrance

Despite gaining national renown after “The Raven” was published in 1845, Edgar Allan Poe never enjoyed great financial success.

On This Day in History

Discover Why ‘The Raven,’ Edgar Allan Poe’s Narrative Poem About a Distraught Lover and a Talking Bird, Remains an American Classic

Published on this day in 1845, the work used alliteration, internal rhyme and repetition to draw in readers, lending it a dark and melancholic tone

Lynx Spider by Manfred Auer won third place in the invertebrate portrait category of this year's Close-up Photographer of the Year contest.

See 15 Winning Images From the Close-Up Photographer of the Year Competition

The annual contest offers a glimpse into the hidden world of tiny scenes, from insects to fish to fungi

A recently discovered trove of Winnie-the-Pooh materials found new homes in the United States and the United Kingdom after selling at auction.

Cool Finds

Man Finds Rare Trove of Winnie-the-Pooh Drawings and Manuscripts in His Father’s Attic

The papers connected to author A.A. Milne—including original drafts, illustrations, letters, poems and corrected proofs—sold at auction for more than $118,000

The recently discovered statue is missing its arms and head.

Cool Finds

A Man Found a Mysterious Statue in a Trash Bag on the Street. It Turned Out to Be a 2,000-Year-Old Greek Artifact

After discovering the ancient artwork in a suburb of Thessaloniki, Greece, the man surrendered it to the police. Authorities are analyzing the statue and investigating why it was abandoned

Whispers in the Breeze by Team Taiwan won third place—as well as the people's choice and artist choice awards—at the World Snow Sculpting Championship in Minnesota.

Check Out These Spellbinding Snow Sculptures—Before They Melt

In places like Colorado and Minnesota, international teams of talented snow artists are creating larger-than-life masterpieces from fluffy white powder

The statue of Athena had been housed in William Weddell's estate in England since the 1700s.

See the Stunning Ancient Roman Statue of Athena That’s Going on View for the First Time in Nearly 260 Years

After spending centuries on a British aristocrat’s estate in North Yorkshire, the marble masterpiece will be unveiled in Chicago’s Wrightwood 659 gallery later this week

The mosaic depicts Alexander the Great fighting in the Battle of Issus.

New Research

Experts Are Unraveling the Mysteries of This Breathtaking 2,000-Year-Old Mosaic Depicting Alexander the Great in Battle

The ancient artwork was uncovered during excavations at Pompeii in the 19th century. Now, researchers are conducting a long, intensive analysis

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