The meaning of Manet’s Luncheon in the Studio

There have been numerous interpretations of Manet’s Luncheon in the Studio, none of them satisfactory. The key to unlocking its meaning lies in contemporary admiration among French writers and artists for the art of William Hogarth

Rysbrack appeal

£750,000 is needed to save an important Rysbrack sulpture of two putti for the nation

Strawberry Hill House appeal

An appeal has been launched to bring back to Strawberry Hill House one of only two visual records of Horace Walpole’s building in its earliest state

Sir Francis Carruthers Gould, pioneering cartoonist

Review of the first major study of Britain’s pioneering graphic satirist, Sir Francis Carruthers Gould (1844–1925), the first staff political cartoonist on a daily newspaper in Britain, and the first of his kind to be knighted

The Welshman in A Rake’s Progress by William Hogarth (1697–1764)

The presence of Welshmen in the fourth scene of Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress has often been noticed. But the identity of the Welsh gentleman responsible for the arrest of the Rake has not been recognized, nor even speculated upon. He is identified here for the first time, and further ramifications of the introduction of references to Wales in Hogarth’s series indicate that the artist is pointing to the contemporary divisions within the Hanoverian royal family

Corrections ‘Sussex Modernism’ review

Corrections to review of ‘Sussex Modernism’ Please note corrections to second para of the review of ‘Sussex Modernism’ as follows: instead of ‘2 Temple Place’ read ‘Two Temple Place’ and instead of ‘fundamentally unchanged’ read ‘fundamentally changed’. Apologies!

Alfred Wallis new book

Matilda Webb Alfred Wallis. Childhood Poverty to Artistic Luminary Seadrift Press 2025 ISBN: 9781838414207 pp530 £45   James Scott     Although much has been written about Wallis’s life, this is far the most complete account that has been written to date, and is clearly the result of many years of research. Matilda Webb explores […]

Siena

‘Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300–1350’ National Gallery, London, 8 March–22 June 2025 Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300–1350. Edited by Joanna Cannon, with Caroline Campbell and Stephan Wolohojian. National Gallery Global, London. Distributed by Yale University Press. 304 pages ISBN 9781857097160 £40   Robin Simon   This is a glorious exhibition, as well displayed […]

Lord Strange: rediscovery of a portrait

Strange: portrait of Shakespeare’s early patron rediscovered       Darnley Fine Art has announced the recent acquisition of a lost portrait of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby (1559–94), also known as Lord Strange. Ferdinando was a crucial figure during the Elizabethan era as both a member of Parliament and the patron of celebrated […]

Edwin Austin Abbey at the National Gallery, London

‘Edwin Austin Abbey: By the Dawn’s Early Light’ Major ceiling design coming to National Gallery, London   ​ 20 November 2025–15 February 2026 Room 1 Admission free   A spectacular design for the domed ceiling of the House of Representatives, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg – a palace of arts and one of the grandest public […]