https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/france-1/RSS feed for FranceenFri, 10 Jul 2026 17:57:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-the-latest-brazen-heist-jewelry-and-artworks-worth-5-million-were-stolen-from-famed-french-designer-lalique-museum-180989105/A trio of burglars stole 27 pieces, including a dragonfly pendant, from the Lalique Museum in eastern FranceFri, 10 Jul 2026 17:57:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-the-latest-brazen-heist-jewelry-and-artworks-worth-5-million-were-stolen-from-famed-french-designer-lalique-museum-180989105/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/as-france-prepares-to-light-up-the-statue-of-liberty-for-americas-250th-peek-into-the-history-of-the-symbol-of-translatlantic-friendship-180989047/Here’s how three French idealists—an abolitionist, a sculptor and the engineer behind the Eiffel Tower—brought the representation of freedom to lifeWed, 01 Jul 2026 15:11:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/as-france-prepares-to-light-up-the-statue-of-liberty-for-americas-250th-peek-into-the-history-of-the-symbol-of-translatlantic-friendship-180989047/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/too-hot-for-art-some-paris-museums-and-landmarks-close-or-reduce-hours-amid-a-record-heat-wave-in-europe-180989029/Meanwhile, other institutions offer their air-conditioned spaces as a way for residents and tourists to beat the heatFri, 26 Jun 2026 19:46:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/too-hot-for-art-some-paris-museums-and-landmarks-close-or-reduce-hours-amid-a-record-heat-wave-in-europe-180989029/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-did-the-handwriting-in-this-248-year-old-notebook-look-familiar-it-turned-out-to-be-a-forgotten-mozart-manuscript-180989017/While working as a tutor in 1778, the composer created seven short pieces for flute and harp with his student's help. This month, audiences heard the works performed for the very first timeThu, 25 Jun 2026 17:17:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-did-the-handwriting-in-this-248-year-old-notebook-look-familiar-it-turned-out-to-be-a-forgotten-mozart-manuscript-180989017/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-stolen-picasso-just-turned-up-during-a-drug-raid-near-paris-reportedly-taken-from-a-storage-facility-180989010/The painting has been authenticated but not revealed. Reports suggest it is one of Picasso's portraits of Marie-Thérèse WalterWed, 24 Jun 2026 20:37:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-stolen-picasso-just-turned-up-during-a-drug-raid-near-paris-reportedly-taken-from-a-storage-facility-180989010/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-claude-monet-planted-water-lilies-inspiration-struck-an-upcoming-auction-will-test-how-much-collectors-prize-the-floral-masterpieces-180988947/The marquee painting from Monet’s "Nymphéas" series is expected to fetch more than $40 million at auction later this monthFri, 12 Jun 2026 20:48:19 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-claude-monet-planted-water-lilies-inspiration-struck-an-upcoming-auction-will-test-how-much-collectors-prize-the-floral-masterpieces-180988947/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/secrets-from-centuries-of-paris-history-are-emerging-from-archaeological-digs-after-the-notre-dame-cathedral-fire-180988886/Ahead of planned redevelopment around the iconic Gothic landmark, researchers are digging into the city’s past, through medieval and Roman layersWed, 03 Jun 2026 14:13:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/secrets-from-centuries-of-paris-history-are-emerging-from-archaeological-digs-after-the-notre-dame-cathedral-fire-180988886/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-remarkable-statue-of-liberty-model-made-by-the-sculptor-of-the-original-has-a-new-summer-home-at-the-smithsonian-castle-180988885/Artist Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s small maquette represents the big ideals of the iconic national monument in New York HarborTue, 02 Jun 2026 17:50:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-remarkable-statue-of-liberty-model-made-by-the-sculptor-of-the-original-has-a-new-summer-home-at-the-smithsonian-castle-180988885/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/someone-stole-a-banana-duct-taped-to-the-wall-of-a-french-museum-one-of-its-twins-fetched-more-than-6-million-at-auction-180988878/This isn't the first time the fruit at the center of the infamous "Comedian" art piece has been stolen or eatenTue, 02 Jun 2026 17:43:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/someone-stole-a-banana-duct-taped-to-the-wall-of-a-french-museum-one-of-its-twins-fetched-more-than-6-million-at-auction-180988878/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/korean-and-french-culture-are-set-to-rendezvous-at-a-new-museum-in-seoul-for-modern-and-contemporary-art-180988864/The Centre Pompidou Hanwha, the newest member of a growing global network of art museums, will debut with an exhibition on European cubism and Korean artSun, 31 May 2026 19:01:41 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/korean-and-french-culture-are-set-to-rendezvous-at-a-new-museum-in-seoul-for-modern-and-contemporary-art-180988864/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-hilma-af-klint-the-occultist-who-believed-otherworldly-spirits-told-her-what-to-paint-now-shes-considered-one-of-historys-first-abstract-artists-180988859/The Swedish painter created bold, vibrant works as early as 1906—several years before contemporaries like Wassily Kandinsky. A new exhibition in France celebrates her sweeping "Paintings for the Temple" seriesFri, 29 May 2026 16:08:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-hilma-af-klint-the-occultist-who-believed-otherworldly-spirits-told-her-what-to-paint-now-shes-considered-one-of-historys-first-abstract-artists-180988859/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/leonora-carrington-is-no-mere-muse-this-influential-surrealist-artist-and-feminist-gets-her-due-in-a-new-biopic-and-art-exhibitions-180988844/Leonora Carrington's life and work are celebrated with the new film "Leonora in the Morning Light." Meanwhile, an exhibition at the Freud Museum showcases for the first time artwork she created inside a psychiatric hospitalThu, 28 May 2026 19:26:51 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/leonora-carrington-is-no-mere-muse-this-influential-surrealist-artist-and-feminist-gets-her-due-in-a-new-biopic-and-art-exhibitions-180988844/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-medieval-manuscript-telling-tales-of-king-arthur-in-ink-and-polished-gold-thats-headed-to-auction-180988835/The manuscript was made by a skilled, anonymous artist between 1290 and 1310. It's the oldest of only three privately owned Vulgate Cycle manuscriptsWed, 27 May 2026 19:29:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-medieval-manuscript-telling-tales-of-king-arthur-in-ink-and-polished-gold-thats-headed-to-auction-180988835/