BEIJING (REUTERS).- A large statue of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, controversially erected outside a Communist Party museum in central Beijing, has quietly been removed from its plinth following an online uproar about its location. The 9.5-me…
Egypt Court Jails Officials Over Van Gogh’s "Vase with Viscaria" Stolen in August
CAIRO (REUTERS).- An Egyptian court on Thursday jailed five officials, including a former head of the state’s fine arts department, over the theft of a Van Gogh painting worth an estimated $55 million, state media said. “Vase with Viscaria” was stole…
Francis Bacon Masterpieces to Highlight Christie’s Post-War and Contemporary Art Sale
NEW YORK (REUTERS).- A Francis Bacon self-portrait triptych is expected to fetch more than $25 million when it hits the auction block next month, Christie’s said Monday. “Three Studies for Self-Portrait,” a 1974 work which depicts three distorted, gutt…
Film by Investigator Simcha Jacobovici Claims Discovery of Nails from Jesus’s Cross
JERUSALEM (REUTERS).- Could two of the nails used to crucify Jesus have been discovered in a 2,000-year-old tomb in Jerusalem? And could they have mysteriously disappeared for 20 years, only to turn up by chance in a Tel Aviv laboratory? That is the pr…
Sands, Not Lights, Cover Gaza Archaeology Sites
KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (REUTERS).- Five thousand years of fascinating history lie beneath the sands of the Gaza Strip, from blinded biblical hero Samson to British general Allenby. The flat, sandy lands on the Mediterranean’s southeastern shore have been ru…
Pink Diamond Expected to Fetch Up to $15 Million Fails to Sell at Christie’s Auction
NEW YORK, NY (REUTERS).- A more than 10 carat purplish-pink diamond expected to fetch up to $15 million failed to sell at Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction on Tuesday which took in a total of $31.8 million. “We were disappointed that the 10-carat p…
Sculptor Richard Serra Shows Unsung Drawings at Metropolitan Museum of Art
NEW YORK (REUTERS).- American artist Richard Serra’s huge iron sculptures are unique for their sense of movement and apparent simplicity, and so are his drawings. A new show, “Richard Serra Drawing: A Retrospective,” opening on Wednesday at New York’s …
Sculptor Richard Serra Shows Unsung Drawings at Metropolitan Museum of Art
NEW YORK (REUTERS).- American artist Richard Serra’s huge iron sculptures are unique for their sense of movement and apparent simplicity, and so are his drawings. A new show, “Richard Serra Drawing: A Retrospective,” opening on Wednesday at New York’s …
Chinese Government Says It is "Unhappy" with Foreign Support for Artist Ai Weiwei
BEIJING (REUTERS).- The Chinese government said on Tuesday it was “unhappy” with foreign support for detained artist and activist Ai Weiwei, after Ai’s detention last week sparked an outcry from Washington and other Western governments.”The Chinese peo…
China "Unhappy" with Foreign Support for Artist Ai Weiwei
BEIJING (REUTERS).- The Chinese government said on Tuesday it was “unhappy” with foreign support for detained artist and activist Ai Weiwei, after Ai’s detention last week sparked an outcry from Washington and other Western governments.”The Chinese peo…