In today’s world of constantly depressing news, any stories relating to art tend to take a back seat. This is understandable. Political policies, the declining environment, our failing political systems– all these things take priority as they have a direct effect on our lives. However, I do believe we all deserve to redirect our thoughts every once in a while so that we don’t lose our minds. My small contribution to this relief from all that’s terrible is a summation of the best art-related stories of March 2019.
Experts claim to have found the only surviving sculpture of da Vinci
Ever wondered why we never talk about da Vinci’s sculptures? That’s cause none of them have ever been found even though they’ve been a part of his legend. Now scholars in Florence claim that the sculpture The Virgin with the Laughing Child is a work of the old master. The artwork was previously credited to Antonio Rossellini.
You can read more about the sculpture’s history, and what makes some experts believe it to be a work of da Vinci’s here.
A Caravaggio painting was found in an attic and could now be worth over £100 million
This story is pretty funny. The painting Judith and Holofernes was found in an attic that had been broken into a few years before. The burglars thought the painting was worthless and stole a bunch perfume bottles instead. Bet they’re kicking themselves now.
Including this newly discovered painting, Caravaggio made only 68 paintings in his lifetime, which would explain the steep price it is predicted this will be sold for.
Read more about this story here.
A digital museum in Paris opens an immersive van Gogh show
I am obsessed with all things van Gogh, which makes this show an absolute dream. The digital art museum L’Atelier des Lumières decided to project van Gogh’s masterpieces onto large walls and screens (and even the floor!). You can spend 35 minutes surrounded by these beautiful paintings. Additionally, the show uses contemporary music including the likes of Nina Simone.
Check out the beautiful pictures and story here.
Was van Gogh in love with his landlady or her daughter?
If you are familiar with Vincent’s story, you know his love life involved a lot of grief, obsession and unrequited love. For a long time, it was believed that van Gogh fell in love with his landlady Ursula while he lived in London. However, letters from Anna, his sister suggest that the object of his affection (or obsession– we can’t be sure) was Ursula’s daughter Eugenie instead. Sadly for Vincent, Eugenie was already engaged to marry someone else.
You can read the full story here.
A new exhibition finally draws attention to the African-American suffragettes
Like with most historical events, our understanding of them tends to be manipulated or warped. In some cases, we have no knowledge of it at all. A new exhibit called Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence is shedding light on an otherwise unseen aspect of the suffragette movement– the story of African-American suffragettes like Alice Dunbar-Nelson.
These women’s perseverance in the face of racism, hatred and misogyny deserves more recognition and a revered place in history. This exhibition aims to give these amazing women all of this and more.
You can read more about Dunbar-Nelson, the black suffragette movement and the exhibit here.
Was Basquiat really an Impressionist?
If you are familiar with Jean-Michel Basquiat, you will find this an interesting read. In the light of a new Basquiat exhibition in New York, this writer examines the motivations behind the artist’s work, and how he had more in common with conceptual artists.
You can read the interesting piece here.
Is there any interesting art news that you came across that we haven’t mentioned here? Let us know in the comment!
The Ink Inquisition 