Features
After the long days of quarantine, Seoul’s museums are a salve to the spirit
Mid-pandemic, the art critic Andrew Russeth moved from New York to Seoul. His first stop out of quarantine? A museum, of course
Richard L. Feigen (1930–2021) – a legendary art dealer whose own private collection was the toast of New York
The renowned art dealer has died at the age of 91. In March 2014, he opened up his extraordinary private art collection to Apollo, in an interview republished in full here
Niki de Saint Phalle’s psychedelic garden is a seriously good trip
In her Tarot Garden in Tuscany, the French-American artist let her imagination run riot
In the 18th century, collecting antiquities was a curiously creative pursuit
Thomas Herbert’s collection of ancient sculpture at Wilton House was heralded during his lifetime – but it relied on somewhat fanciful premises
Seven music videos that take a cue from art history
Kara Walker’s fountain at Tate Modern plays a starring role in FKA Twigs’ new video – and it’s not the first artwork to have a brush with the charts
Six heritage hotspots dishing out Covid vaccines
It’s nigh-on impossible to get a decent dose of culture right now – unless you’re signed up for a jab at a museum
What a sham! On fakery and the Russian avant-garde
Suspect and bona fide works rub shoulders at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne – in a display the museum presents as an opportunity for close looking
The forgotten fame of Angelica Kauffman
The Swiss artist reinvented history painting from a female perspective. It’s a shame a planned exhibition about her in London has been cancelled
Queen of suspense – the art of Patricia Highsmith
The novelist’s Ripley thrillers explore deceit like no others – but her candid drawings tell a different story
How Bologna pioneered the art of anatomical wax modelling
Palazzo Poggi houses the extraordinary 18th-century creations of a school dedicated to wax modelling – invaluable tools for medical students at the time
Acquisitions of the Month: December 2020
Courtroom sketches from the trials of Alfred Dreyfus and of Émile Zola are among this month’s highlights – along with a major collection of arms and armour
A tribute to Homan Potterton (1946–2020)
As a young museum director, Homan Potterton transformed the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection – but he would resign suddenly, later gaining success as a writer
Rate of return – is France’s commitment to restitution waning?
In a changing political climate, conversations about colonial history – and calls for action – are taking on a new urgency
Arty films and books to look forward to in 2021
From a Netflix flick about the Sutton Hoo dig to a study of women’s self-portraits – the must-see movies and a first reading list for art lovers
Bard boy – David Garrick and the cult of Shakespeare
The actor did more than anyone to revive Shakespeare’s reputation in the 18th century – and a plethora of curious wooden relics also played their part
The major art anniversaries to look out for in 2021
Plans for exhibitions and events may be up in the air, but the anniversaries they mark are fixed in the calendar
Silver linings – artists share their hopeful moments from 2020
Annie Morris, Sunil Gupta, Edmund de Waal and other artists reflect on what’s made them feel a little more positive this year
Club classics – on the dance floor with Denzil Forrester
The painter discusses dancehalls, club music and drawing in the dark
Buttered toast and bridge evenings – Summoned by Bells revisited
John Betjeman’s nostalgic verse memoir was well served by its illustrators
Concerns rise about cultural freedom in Slovenia
The recent dismissal of two respected museum directors widens the gulf between the ministry of culture and the contemporary arts sector
‘The Parthenon was but the tip of the iceberg’ – remembering Ian Jenkins (1953–2020)
Brilliant and charismatic, the British Museum curator was dedicated to sharing his passion for ancient Greece
Federal agency – how Augustus Saint-Gaudens sculpted the American Civil War
With his monuments to Union statesmen and soldiers, the artist acknowledged the unfinished business of the past
Keeping time – the Tunisian clock monuments that tell of a bygone regime
A decade after the uprisings that led to the downfall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the clocks he loved remain
Acquisitions of the Month: November 2020
Canadian landscapes by Emily Carr and a major fresco by Tiepolo are among this month’s highlights
The many faces of Mary Magdalene