A new book turns the staple into a star and unscrambles its significance beyond the kitchen
Street lights, kiosks and benches are easy to ignore, but they can make all the difference to how a city look and feels
Working in an Italian city with no Roman past allowed painters and sculptors to put their own spin on classical antiquity
Exhibitions to look forward to include some major retrospectives and shows that pick up where the Venice Biennale left off
The prospect of more towering edifices on the horizon is hardly cheering, but there are more grounded projects to look forward to
Joshua Reynolds, Sarah Bernhardt and Pablo Picasso are all being celebrated in anniversary events this year
Marrying into the Medici family made the Spanish noblewoman one of the most important artistic patrons of her day
Last week Peter Doig was revealed as the latest artist to design a label for the chateau – a tradition that began in 1945 and remains shrouded in mystery
The artist who effortlessly crossed genres, but stayed close to south London, was best known for ‘A Humument’, a masterpiece 50 years in the making
Leonardo da Vinci’s sketch of a grumpy woman and an elaborate art nouveau tea set once owned by Karl Lagerfeld are among this month’s highlights
Packed with nods to the patron for whom it was painted, the ‘Adoration of the Shepherds’ is one of Domenico Ghirlandaio’s most appealing works
The history of Dosso Dossi's painting of the ‘sorceress’ – otherwise known as Melissa – reveals a bewitching tale of romance
The Cinémathèque française’s unsettling show about film-making and espionage reveals how much the two activities have in common
Mulled wine may be the fuel for contemporary Christmas celebrations but drinking it is a tradition that dates back to antiquity
While Britain was no less affected by the disease than the United States, the response of its gay artists at the start of the crisis was provocatively distinct
A menu designed to accompany the gallery’s survey of the artist pays homage to the flavours of Provence, but doesn’t quite live up to the works on show
Few 18th-century painters were more enthusiastic about embracing English literature than the Swiss-born artist
Newly restored, this museum is both an architectural treasure and home to works by Masaccio’s unfairly overlooked younger brother
This month’s highlights include the 18th-century Chinese jardinière that Horace Walpole famously used as a fish bowl
Curator Dany Chan takes a close look at an exquisite jade cup in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore
The Japanese ceramicist infused his approach to pottery with British traditions from his travels in the 1920s, before bringing this new style back to his native country
The maison’s limited-edition bottles designed by contemporary artists, designers and architects have secured its place as leader in the luxury market
A delicately painted spring scene could suggest complex notions about beauty, hope and death
Shokuhin sampuru (food models) may serve the promotional function of luring diners into restaurants but the creation of each replica is a delicate craft
