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Art History

Curator Katherine Carter with the restored Marlborough portrait in Chartwell's main staircase

Restoration Reveals the Secrets of One of Winston Churchill’s Most Beloved Paintings

Long thought to be a family heirloom, the artwork was actually gifted to the British prime minister in 1942 during the darkest days of World War II

The portrait recently went on display at England's Wrest Park.

Does This Mysterious Portrait Depict Lady Jane Grey, the Doomed Queen Who Ruled England for Nine Days in 1553?

After conducting a new analysis, some researchers think it may be the only portrait of Grey created during her lifetime—a conclusion that has generated controversy

The tomb’s centerpiece carving depicts a reclining man.

Cool Finds

Ancient Tomb Decorated With Stunning Reliefs and a Mysterious Inscription Discovered Beneath a Courtyard in Turkey

Found in the province of Şanlıurfa, the rock tomb features depictions of a reclining man and two winged women alongside an illegible inscription

This George Romney sketch was discovered in a dumpster in upstate New York.

Cool Finds

This 18th-Century Sketch by a Renowned English Portraitist Was Hiding in a Dumpster in New York

The tiny drawing by artist George Romney depicts Henrietta, Countess of Warwick. It will be sold at an upcoming auction in London

Train Smoke, Edvard Munch, 1900

See the Breathtaking Landscape Paintings Inspired by the Boreal Forest, From Europe to North America

Titled “Northern Lights,” a new exhibition in Switzerland showcases artworks of the taiga made between 1888 and 1937

The frescoes in Pompeii's House of Thiasus

Cool Finds

See the Stunning Frescoes of a Mysterious Dionysian Cult Discovered in Ancient Pompeii

Created more than a century before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E., the wall paintings provide rare insights into secret rituals conducted in the Roman city

Untitled Robot Painting, Alexander Reben, 2025

Artists Sign Open Letter Protesting Christie’s Upcoming All-A.I. Art Auction

Some artists fear that A.I. models trained on their work will eventually put them out of business, while others are embracing the latest technology in an effort to expand the bounds of human creativity

A ceremony at the the Great Mosque of al-Nuri marked the culmination of UNESCO-led restoration efforts in Mosul.

See Mosul’s Historic Leaning Minaret Tower, Rebuilt After Destruction by ISIS

Eight years after the Iraqi city was left in ruins, Mosul’s rich multicultural heritage is slowly but surely beginning to flower again

Researchers think the portrait depicts a businessman, lawyer or banker.

Cool Finds

Experts Say They’ve Found a Portrait of a Mysterious Businessman Hidden Beneath a Titian Masterpiece

When the Renaissance artist painted his famous “Ecce Homo” around 1570, he covered up a portrait of an “an unknown professional man” standing at a desk

Washington at Princeton, Charles Willson Peale, 1779

This Historic Portrait of George Washington Is Being Restored to Its Former Glory

The 18th-century painting by Charles Willson Peale had previously been the subject of mismanaged restoration attempts. Now, experts in Versailles are bringing it back in line with the artist’s original intent

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 Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century masterpiece of medieval embroidery, famously narrates the events leading up to and including the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

New Research

Archaeologists Say They’ve Located Harold II’s Lost Manor House

A latrine found in Bosham, England, has helped identify the location of the king’s long-lost residence, offering new insights into medieval life before the Norman Conquest

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”

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

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

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

The Approach to Venice or Venice From the Lagoon, J.M.W. Turner, circa 1840

Cool Finds

Someone Sent a Fuzzy Photo of a Painting to Christie’s. It Turned Out to Be a Rare Watercolor by J.M.W. Turner

After its owner submitted the piece to an online appraisal service, auction house specialists realized it had been misattributed to another artist for decades

Works like Tissot's The Convalescent (1872), pictured here, reflect a sense of unease over a modernizing society that was sweeping women up in its fray.

These Stunning 19th-Century Artworks Reveal the Contradictions of the Modern Woman

A new exhibition spotlights James Tissot, whose paintings and prints reflected women’s ever-evolving roles in Victorian society

The Eaton Fire has devastated the community of Altadena.

Music History and Contemporary Art Destroyed in the Deadly Los Angeles Wildfires

An archive of scores by composer Arnold Schoenberg and the collections of countless contemporary artists have been lost in the blaze

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