Ancient art

Two rare portraits of the Blind Man of Gambassi presented at TEFAF Maastricht

Two rare terracotta portraits by Tuscan sculptor Giovanni Gonnelli, known as the Cieco di Gambassi (Gambassi, 1603 - Rome, 1656), are presented by Rob Smeets Gallery at TEFAF Maastricht 2026, one of the most prestigious international fairs dedicated ...
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Raphael's Ecstasy of St. Cecilia flies from Bologna to the Metropolitan in New York

The Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna is preparing to bid a temporary farewell to one of the most celebrated masterpieces held in its collections. Raphael 's TheEcstasy of Saint Cecilia (Urbino, 1483 - Rome, 1520) will in fact be the protagonist of an ...
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The state buys a masterpiece by Francesco Albani for the Pinacoteca Nazionale in Bologna

More important blows from the state for Italian museums. Two new works join the collections of the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, thus further enriching the holdings of Bologna's National Museums. They are a painting by Francesco Albani (Bologna, 1...
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State buys Caravaggio's Portrait of Maffeo Barberini for 30 million for Palazzo Barberini

The deed of purchase of Caravaggio's Portrait of Monsignor Maffeo Barberini, a work of extraordinary importance that will become part of the heritage of the Italian state, was signed today at the Ministry of Culture. Upon completion of the required a...
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Salvator Mundi "de Ganay" from Leonardo's workshop will be at Tefaf Maastricht 2026

Leonardo's Salvator Mundi theme returns to the center of attention in the international art-historical market and research. In fact, on the occasion of Tefaf 2026, the important antiques fair held in Maastricht, London 's Agnews Gallery is presenting...
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Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca acquires work by Giustiniana Guidotti Borghese, daughter of Cavalier Borghese

The Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca recently acquired a new work in its collection: the Crucified Christ Triumphing over Death, Evil and Sin by Giustiniana Guidotti Borghese, daughter of Paolo Guidotti, the Cavalier Borghese. "After The Portr...
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Genoa, six apostles from a precious Procaccini cycle reunited after 350 years

Six canvases reunited after more than 350 years: it happens in Genoa, where from March 7 to July 19, 2026, the Strada Nuova Museums presents the exhibition Giulio Cesare Procaccini. The Apostles Reunited, set up in the rooms of Palazzo Rosso. The exh...
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Raphael, extraordinary discovery: drawing of the Banner of the Trinity resurfaces from restoration

The restoration of the Stendardo della Santissima Trinità by Raphael Sanzio (Urbino, 1483 - Rome, 1520), kept at the Pinacoteca Comunale di Città di Castello, has restored new legibility to the work and led to the unexpected discovery ...
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Parma, six sculptures from the Farnese Theater at the Pilotta restored.

The outcomes of the restoration and enhancement intervention involving six figurative stucco sculptures, originally part of the decorative apparatus of the Teatro Farnese, considered one of the masterpieces of the European Baroque, were presented to...
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An important early work by Gerrit van Honthorst purchased by the Centraal Museum in Utrecht

An exceptional preview turns the spotlight on one of the leading figures of the Dutch seventeenth century. On the occasion of TEFAF Maastricht, the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, Netherlands, is presenting theEcstasy of Mary Magdalene-a rare early work ...
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Vermeer for the first time in Turin: the Woman in Blue at Palazzo Madama

From March 5 to June 29, 2026, Palazzo Madama in Turin is hosting in the Atelier Room one of the best-known works by Johannes Vermeer (Delft, 1632 - 1675), Woman in Blue on loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. This is the first time that Turin has...
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Paris, a painting by Caroto discovered: important addition to the Veronese painter's catalog

A major discovery for 16th-century Veronese painting emerges in Paris, where the young Galerie Duponchel is opening its first exhibition devoted to Old Masters drawings and paintings. The exhibition, hosted from March 21-30, 2026 in the spaces of Gal...
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Tour guide caught drawing on pyramid in Giza: stopped by authorities

Egyptian authorities have arrested a tour guide in Giza after a video circulated on social media showing the man tracing marks on the outer covering of a pyramid to illustrate explanations to a group of tourists. According to a report by the Interior...
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Rome, restoration of Thorvaldsen's Venus and Bienaimé's Telemachus from the Academy of St. Luke kicks off

TheNational Academy of St. Luke in Rome is inaugurating a new restoration campaign dedicated to two important neoclassical sculptures: Venus with an apple (1813) by Danish master Bertel Thorvaldsen and Telemachus (ca. 1835) by Carrarese sculptor Luig...
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New Rembrandt work discovered: announcement from Rijksmuseum

A new work officially enters the catalog of Rembrandt van Rijn (Leiden, 1606 - Amsterdam, 1669). In fact, researchers at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam have shown that a painting, the Vision of Zechariah in the Temple, dated 1633, can be assigned to th...
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Assisi, major project to digitize the Basilica of St. Francis

The year 2026 marks eight hundred years since the death of St. Francis (Assisi, 1181 - 1226), and Assisi is preparing to celebrate the anniversary with a project that looks to the future of cultural heritage protection: in fact, the Basilica of St. F...
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