The Perfect Affordable Gift for Creatives Actually Exists — FOLLOW.ART Nexus CardBreaking Art Boundaries: Tianyun Jiang’s Poetic Journey Redefining ExistenceGOING BEYOND – Pushing the Boundaries of Textiles and Ceramics at Taste ContemporaryHigh-End Art and Celebrity Collaborations: Exclusive Interview with Renowned Curator Jean-David Malat | Part 3
Maurice Leloir’s Four Historical Scenes Sell for €128,600 at BonhamsJacob Jordaens’s Portrait of His Wife Sells for €154,200 at BonhamsRenaissance Portrait Attributed to Conrad Faber Sells for €295,000 at BonhamsJodi the Nanotyrannus Sells for US$47.3 Million at Sotheby’sQianlong Emperor’s Jewel-Encrusted Gold Ewer Sells for US$7.11 Million at Christie’sHockney’s €282,200 Print Leads Warhol and Banksy in €1.06 Million Bonhams SaleMV Agusta Sells for $1.3 Million, Setting an Italian Motorcycle Auction RecordEnigma Machine Sells for £203,600 at Bonhams: Inside the 1941 Cipher DeviceUzo Egonu’s Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I Sets Auction Record at £198,900Yusuf Grillo’s One Man Band Sets Artist Auction Record at £461,300Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu Sells for £602,100, Setting a Sculpture Record at BonhamsRare Gandhi Portrait Achieves £152,800, Tripling Its EstimateBanksy’s British Cool Mickey Snake Triumphs at Bonhams, Selling for £330,600Whistler’s First Portrait Commission Sells for Five Times Estimate, Fetching $495,000Bridget Riley Stuns Art World as Myrrh Soars to $2.36M at Bonhams

Christian Art

Eliana P. Gómez: Unveiling Hidden Histories in Art and Sacred Relics

By on
Face detail of the Holy Shroud rendered in blue, turquoise and yellow, with pale markings.

Through meticulous research and a multidisciplinary approach, Eliana P. Gómez examines hidden details in Leonardo da Vinci’s works and the Holy Shroud of Christ. Her studies reveal subtle inscriptions, historical connections, and symbolic elements that offer new perspectives on some of history’s most iconic artifacts. This exploration invites readers to consider how art, history, and scholarship converge to uncover long-overlooked traces of the past.

Simonetta Vespucci Restores the Identity of Botticelli’s Lost Altarpiece

By on
Detail of the San Leo Altarpiece

After more than four years of meticulous restoration, a long-overlooked Renaissance altarpiece has reemerged in stunning detail—now believed by experts to be the work of none other than Sandro Botticelli. Hidden beneath centuries of retouching and misattribution, the Madonna Enthroned with Child among Saints from San Leo is captivating art historians with its unmistakable style and mysterious past. One scholar even suggests the flanking saints may once have been portraits of Pico della Mirandola and Poliziano. The full story uncovers how this masterpiece journeyed through time, hands, and ideologies—only to be seen anew today.

Mary Magdalene: Raphael’s Forgotten Masterpiece Valued at 300 Million Euros

By on
Close-up of the face in the Mary Magdalene painting, framed by dark hair against a dark background.

Today marks the end of the exhibition of Raphael’s forgotten masterpiece, “Mary Magdalene,” organized by the Department of Var with support from the Ministry of Culture. Exhibited since April 20 in the Sacristy of the Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, the third most significant tomb in Christianity after those in Jerusalem and Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where Mary Magdalene’s tomb is located. Mary Magdalene is considered the apostle to the apostles of Christ.

Ethical Dilemmas in Art Conservation and Restoration: Preserving the Sacred Legacy of Christian Icons

By on
Venizelos G. Gavrilakis at the International Conference on the Documentation of Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage.

This March 11-13, 2024, the International Conference on the Documentation of Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage took place in Sofia at the New Conference Hall, St Kliment of Ohrid University of Sofia. Experts and scholars convened to explore and discuss the documentation, digitization, and preservation of ecclesiastical cultural heritage. The conference commenced with addresses from distinguished guests, including the Mayor of Sofia, Mr. Vasil Terziev, the Rector of Sofia University, Georgi Valchev, the Deputy Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Efstratios Stylianidis, the Board member of KMKD Eva Şarlak, and other esteemed academics and members of KMKD (Association for the Protection of Cultural Heritage).

Preserving the Legacy of Christian Icons

By on
Close view of a camera beside a Christian icon depicting a haloed child in blue robes.

Christian icons, revered as sacred depictions of Christianity and esteemed as historical art masterpieces, have withstood the test of time, serving as potent symbols of faith and repositories of theological teachings. Despite their spiritual significance, icons are susceptible to threats from environmental elements, human intervention, and natural calamities. The preservation and restoration of these icons necessitate specialized knowledge, skills, and a profound sensitivity to their religious and cultural significance.

Important Vasily Polenov Masterpiece Sells for $1.7 Million at Bonhams, Setting a World Record

By on • ( 2 Comments )
Detail of Vasily Polenov’s biblical painting, with a black-robed woman in a doorway and figures seated inside a vaulted room.

In a remarkable event at Bonhams 19th century and British Impressionist Art Sale today, an exquisite oil on canvas by Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov (1844-1927) stole the spotlight, fetching an astonishing £1,379,000 ($1,760,000). The painting, titled ‘And she went and told them that she had been with Him as they mourned and wept’, is a part of Polenov’s renowned series, ‘The Life of Christ’. Initially estimated to sell for £400,000-600,000, the final price far exceeded expectations, marking a significant moment in the art world.

Bonhams Unveils Important Vasily Polenov Masterpiece at their 19th Century Impressionist Art Auction in London

By on • ( 1 Comment )
Detail of seated, robed figures beside a hearth in Vasily Polenov’s And she went and told them that she had been with Him as they mourned and wept.

A rare oil painting by the Russian artist Vasily Dmitrievich Polenov (1844-1927), part of a series titled ‘The Life of Christ,’ will take center stage at Bonhams’ upcoming 19th-century and British Impressionist Art Sale on March 20 at New Bond Street in London. Entitled ‘And she went and told them that she had been with Him as they mourned and wept,’ the artwork is expected to fetch between £400,000 and £600,000. Another painting from the same series, ‘There were also women looking from afar off,’ achieved a price of over £1.5 million at Bonhams last year.

Donatello Puzzle: The Deposition of Christ and High Altar at Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua

By on • ( 1 Comment )
Current arrangement of the high altar at the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua, with bronze statues, reliefs and a crucifix.

As part of the exhibition dedicated to Donatello at the Victoria and Albert Museum (“Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance,” which took place from February 11, 2023, to June 11, 2023), a conference organized by the V&A Research Institute was held in London. It focused on the Medici sculptor par excellence, the only one honored with burial in the crypt of the Basilica of the Florentine dynasty of San Lorenzo. Speeches were scheduled over two days and saw the presence of the most important specialists in the international arena. They took stock of the studies dedicated to the Master, which, despite having a very extensive bibliography, still leave many questions open.

Exploring the Significance of Christian Icons

By on • ( 2 Comments )
Detail of Christ Pantocrator from St. Catherine’s Monastery, showing the face and halo.

The term “icon” finds its roots in the Greek language, derived from the word Εικόνα, pronounced as “Ikona” in Greek and translated to “Icon” in English. It signifies an image or representation, predominantly portraying figures such as Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and saints. Additionally, icons depict events from Christian sources, including the Old and New Testaments, Gospels, the lives of Jesus and saints, and other sacred texts. Icons stand as highly symbolic artworks, laden with profound meaning and character.

Researcher Who Discovered Raphael’s Long-Lost Mary Magdalene Speaks Out in an Exclusive Interview

By on • ( 2 Comments )
Composite Mary Magdalene portrait detail, with the face in color at left and grayscale at right.

Following the recent unveiling of Raphael Sanzio’s painting depicting Mary Magdalene, the art community was abuzz with enthusiasm, curiosity, and criticism. Numerous high-profile articles and videos were published, chronicling this historic find. While acclaimed by certain art connoisseurs and scholars, the research conducted by experts faced scrutiny from skeptics, raising questions about the masterpiece’s authenticity. In an effort to set the record straight, explain the scientific processes involved, and respond to the critiques, Annalisa Di Maria, one of the principal researchers behind this remarkable revelation, granted an exclusive interview to The World Art News. During this conversation, she provided valuable insights, addressing the concerns that had surfaced in response to this groundbreaking discovery.