TALLAHASSEE (AP).- A federal judge has ordered the return of a 16th Century Baroque painting depicting Christ carrying the cross to the heirs of a Jewish man who died shortly before the German occupation of France in World War II. U.S. Judge Robert Hin…
New-York Historical Society displays a manuscript copy of the Thirteenth Amendment signed by Lincoln
NEW YORK (AP).- As Black History Month begins and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday approaches, the New-York Historical Society adds to its displays a rare handwritten copy of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution—the measure that abolished s…
History expert Barry Landau pleads guilty to stealing documents; faces up to 10 years in prison
BALTIMORE (AP).- A memorabilia collector and self-styled expert on presidential history pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to steal thousands of documents signed by leaders throughout U.S. history. Barry Landau, whose knowledge of the White House ea…
Queen Elizabeth II by Cecil Beaton: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration at the Victoria & Albert Museum
LONDON.- To celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the V&A is holding an exhibition of portraits of Her Majesty by photographer Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). Presenting highlights of the V&A’s collection of Beaton’s royal photography, Queen …
Per Kirkeby and the "Forbidden Paintings" of Kurt Schwitters at the Centre for Fine Arts
BRUSSELS.- This retrospective at the Centre for Fine Arts presents a variety of aspects of the Danish artist’s considerable oeuvre. The exhibition also takes a look at the little-known realistic landscape paintings of the avant-garde artist Kurt Schwit…
World Trade Center cost rises to $14.8B; projected cost has risen $3.8 billion since 2008
NEW YORK (AP).- The agency that is building the new World Trade Center is “dysfunctional” and has let costs get out of control on the $14.8 billion project, auditors said Tuesday. The projected cost of the complex has risen $3.8 billion since 2008, wh…
Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei to design Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012
LONDON.- The Serpentine Gallery announced that Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei will create the 2012 Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. It will be the twelfth commission in the Gallery’s annual series, the world’s first and most ambitious architect…
"Generationally wealthy" art connoisseurs impacting market for 19th century oriental rugs
OAKLAND, CA.- Jan David Winitz, president/founder of Claremont Rug Company, today described his market for art-level 19th century Oriental carpets as increasingly being led by connoisseurs whom he describes as “generationally wealthy.” Accord…
Met Museum Announces Major Renovation Plans for its Fifth Avenue Plaza and Fountains
NEW YORK, NY.- The Metropolitan Museum of Art today unveiled plans for a comprehensive redesign of the four-block-long outdoor plaza that runs in front of its landmark Fifth Avenue façade, from 80th to 84th Streets in Manhattan. The plan also calls fo…
Israel Antiquities Authority has unearthed the foundation of a large fortress on the Hill of Jonah in Ashdod
JERUSALEM.- At ‘Giv’at Yonah’, in Ashdod, Archaeological Finds were Uncovered that Verify the Existence of Life there at the Time of Jonah the Prophet The foundation of a large fortress that was situated there during the First Temple period w…