Beauty and Ugliness in Brussels
April 22 2026
Picture: BOZAR
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm slow to news of an exhibition on Beauty and Ugliness in the Renaissance which opened at BOZAR in Brussels earlier this year.
According to their website:
Bellezza e Bruttezza explores how artists from Italy and Northern Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries depicted these extremes, from refined ideals to deliberate grotesques. A rare opportunity to see extraordinary works, some appearing in Belgium for the first and only time.
The exhibition traces how the standards of beauty and ugliness evolved from the last quarter of the 15th century to the end of the 16th century—key transitional periods—by juxtaposing in a rich and compelling confrontation the ways in which these two subjects were interpreted by the greatest Italian artists and their counterparts from Northern Europe. Beauty became an increasingly important social concern at this time, as shown by the rising number of 16th-century publications offering “recipes for looking beautiful” and advice on cosmetics and care. Meanwhile, ugliness also grew in prominence in art, appearing in a widening range of forms throughout the same period.
The show will run until 14th June 2026.
Lecture at Newcastle University
April 22 2026
Picture: Newcastle University
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Newcastle University is hiring a Lecturer in Art History.
According to the job description:
Fine Art at Newcastle University seeks to appoint a Lecturer in Art History who will contribute to the delivery, development and administration of Art History modules on the Fine Art BA undergraduate programme, the MA in Contemporary Art History and Curating (CAHAC) and the MA in Fine Art. You will lead on our Histories of Photography undergraduate module, contribute to our team-taught BA stage 1 modules, the BA stage 3 dissertation module, as well as CAHAC modules. You may also be asked to contribute to our MA Fine Art Exhibition Practice module. You will undertake other academic roles such as personal tutoring, commensurate with the role and subject to discussion with head of subject. This is a fixed-term post to cover maternity leave.
We are looking for someone who can complement one or more of our existing strengths in: art in the USA post-1945; art-science relations and the medical humanities; socially engaged art practices; feminist and queer art histories; art and ecology. We especially welcome applications from those working on histories of photography and lens-based media, global art histories and visual culture, and/or decolonial approaches to art history.
The job comes with a salary between £36,636 - £46,049 and applications must be in by 5th May 2026.
Good luck if you're applying!
Donation of 15 works to Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans
April 22 2026
Picture: La Tribune de l'Art
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from La Tribune de l'Art that 15 works have been donated by the art historian and former curator Françoise Heilbrun to the Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans. The gift includes works by Eugène Delacroix amongst others.
Research for the Art Institute of Chicago
April 22 2026
Picture: Art Institute of Chicago
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Art Institute of Chicago are hiring a Research Associate.
According to the job description:
Under the direction of the chair and curators, the Research Associate supports research, writing, and content production for collections, exhibitions, gallery rotations, and reinstallations. The role involves conducting art historical and market research, investigating provenance and exhibition histories, preparing materials for advisory meetings, maintaining database records, contributing to online collection publishing, and responding to research enquiries.
The job comes with a salary between $39,967 – $52,325 and no application deadline has been specified online.
Good luck if you're applying!
Charles Le Brun uncovered in Church of Saint-Médard, Paris
April 22 2026
Picture: Saint-Médard & @mweilc via 'X'
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Louvre curator Nicolas Milovanovic has shared news on 'X' of a rediscovered early work by Charles Le Brun which has been uncovered in the Church of Saint-Médard in Paris. The painting is currently being cleaned, click on this link for more images.
AHN for Smartphones!
April 22 2026
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
If you're reading AHN on a mobile phone, you may have noticed that the site has just been updated to make posts easier to read. All the features should be accessible when read in-full on a desktop / laptop.
As ever, all feedback is most welcome!
Lecture at the University of Manchester
April 20 2026
Picture: University of Manchester
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The University of Manchester are hiring a Lecturer (Teaching and Scholarship) in Early Modern Art and Architecture (Renaissance and Baroque).
According to the job description:
The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the work of the subject area as follows:
- Teach on/contribute to established course units on the BA(Hons) Art History at all undergraduate levels, including our first-semester survey ‘Artworks in History: Ice Age to Baroque’
- Teach optional units related to their field of expertise in Early Modern art and architecture (Renaissance or Baroque), with any geographic focus
- Supervise undergraduate dissertations
- Act as academic advisor to students
- Take a full part in the life and administration of Art History and Cultural Practices
- Contribute to the rich research culture of Art History and Cultural Practices
The job comes with a salary between £42,254 - £46,049 and applications must be in by 24th April 2026.
Good luck if you're applying!
Frederic Church 200 in NY
April 20 2026
Picture: olana.org
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Olana State Historic Site in NY will be opening an exhibition on 17th May 2026 to celebrate the 200th anniversary since the birth of Frederic Church (1826-1900).
According to their website:
The life and work of Frederic Church (1826–1900) was indelibly shaped by global travel. Early trips took him to South America, across the northeastern United States, to Jamaica, and to the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Later he visited Europe and the Near Middle East, and in his final decades he made 15 winter sojourns in Mexico. The designed landscape, global collections, and striking architecture of the home he and his wife Isabel named “Olana” reflect the many worlds through which he traveled.
Frederic Church: Global Artist examines the artist in his own time and demonstrates his continuing relevance for today’s audiences. Co-curated by Elizabeth Kornhauser, Tim Barringer, and Jennifer Raab, Frederic Church: Global Artist will unite drawings and oil sketches from Church’s travels with examples of his large, extravagantly detailed paintings produced for public exhibition. In addition to rarely seen works from the Olana collection, the exhibition will feature loans from a number of major public and private collections, including the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, The New York Historical, and The Terra Foundation for American Art.
The show will run until 25th October 2026.
21 Renoirs owned by Artist's Muse coming up at Bonhams
April 20 2026
Picture: Bonhams
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from artnet.com that Bonhams will be auctioning-off 21 works by Renoir that were owned by the artist's muse Gabrielle Renard.
According to the article linked above:
Although Renard briefly exhibited some of her Renoirs while alive, many of these masterpieces will be totally new to public view. She probably owned even more, too, but gave them away. “These 21 pieces represent the core works she and her family chose to retain and cherish as her personal collection,” Millar told me.
Mystery Elizabethan Portrait Reidentified as Penelope Rich?
April 20 2026
Picture: The Royal Collection Trust
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Sunday Telegraph (behind a paywall) published a story over the weekend regarding a new proposed identity for a Marcus Gheeraerts portrait in the Royal Collection (pictured). The portrait of an Unknown Lady has attracted lots of theories over the years, and the latest is that it may actually depict Penelope Rich, the sister of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. Researchers at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, and University College London has suggested that various clues contained within the painting's inscription point towards Lady Rich being the sitter (I need to access a copy of the article to read all the evidence for myself!).
Sleeper Alert!
April 18 2026
Picture: Pandolfini
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Social media is awash with news that the following Battle Scene ascribed to 'Lombard School, 17th century' realised €400,000 over its €2k - €3k estimate at Pandolfini in Florence yesterday. The name 'Poussin' is the one that is currently circling the picture. Let's see if it ends up anywhere interesting...
New Modigliani Digital Catalogue
April 17 2026
Picture: catalogue.modigliani-initiative.org
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The first phase of a new digital catalogue of the paintings of Amedeo Modigliani has been published online. The project is managed by The Modigliani Initiative who aim to become a 'centralized and publicly accessible resource for information about Modigliani, his work, and his artistic milieu.' The first tranche contains 59 paintings in US public institutions, with further updates expected in the near future. The catalogue is free to use, although, you'll have to provide your details before accessing the database.
Piero di Cosimo's Magdalene at the Palazzo Venezia, Rome
April 17 2026
Video: TG2000
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Palazzo Venezia in Rome are opening a new exhibition today investigating Piero di Cosimo's painting of the Magdalene alongside other examples of the decorative arts from that period. The display will run until 5th July 2026.
Romney's Miss Vernon coming up at Millon
April 17 2026
Picture: Millon
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News has arrived that the French auction house Millon will be offering a remerged painting by George Romney on 29th May 2026. The portrait of Carolina Maria Vernon, the sister-in-law to George, 2nd Earl of Warwick, was only known from a B&W image until its recent re-emergence with the descendants of the family of Franz Frantsevich Uteman (1868-1925) of St Petersburg. The picture will be offered carrying an estimate of €150,000 - €200,000.
Mona Lisa Theft new subject for Lloyd Webber
April 16 2026
Picture: whatsonstage.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from the world of theatre that the musicals impresario and art collector Andrew Lloyd Webber is setting his sights on the 1910s theft of the Mona Lisa for his new musical adventure.
According to the article linked above:
As for when, who, where and what form the musical may take, we’ll have to wait and see, as Lloyd Webber continues: “And, more than that, I can’t really tell you, for the simple reason that I am going away next week to write it.”
LACMA Galleries to Reopen after $724m Rebuilding Project
April 16 2026
Video: CBS LA
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) will be opening their completely rebuilt $724m worth of galleries on 19th April 2026. The David Geffen Galleries, which has been described as 'a hulking, curving concrete building' will house the museum's permanent collection within 110,000 sq feet of floor space.
Emma Soyer acquired by NGV Melbourne
April 16 2026
Picture: NGV Melbourne
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News has arrived via the website of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne that they have acquired Emma Soyer's (c.1809-1842) A girl with a basket of tulips, lilacs and other flowers, on a balcony before a landscape. The picture was acquired with funds from the Eva Mandel Bequest and Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family, and compliments their other recently acquired Soyer, called The Escape, which appeared at a Christie's sale in 2023.
As it happens, Soyer's Flower Girl was initially spotted by my friend Dominic Sanchez Cabello and myself a few years ago in the collection of Melford Hall in Suffolk (which is partly owned by the National Trust and still inhabited by its historic family). The owners didn't know of its significance and shortly afterwards the picture appeared hanging in the Christie's Private Sales galleries who presumably made the sale to the Australian gallery. Congratulations to all involved, it is a stunning addition to Soyer's growing oeuvre (of which there is more to be said in due course).
Update - Here's a short blog from Dominic on the picture.
Lamport Hall Study Day
April 16 2026
Picture: Lamport Hall
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A reader has kindly been in touch that Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire, the home of a very fine historic collection of paintings, are hosting a study day on 9th June 2026. Speakers include Karen Hearn, Ruth Larsen and Leslie Primo on subjects such as Cornelius Johnson, Women and Country Houses and The Foreign Invention of British Art. Click on the link above for more details on how to acquire tickets.
CFP: New Research on Venetian Art
April 15 2026
Picture: 'X' via @_Rachel_Healy_
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
In case you're a Doctoral or Post-Doctoral Student, the Venetian Art History Research Group (VAHRG) have published a Call for Papers on the subject of New Research on Venetian Art. The study day will take place on 24th October 2026 on Zoom and submissions for papers need to be in by 30th June 2026.
Master of the Blue Jeans donated to Pinacoteca cantonale G. Züst
April 15 2026
Picture: Galerie Canesso
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from the Galerie Canesso on Instagram that the Pinacoteca cantonale Giovanni Züst in Mendrisio, Switzerland, have been donated Woman Begging with Two Children by the Master of the Blue Jeans (spotted via @mweilc).
According to their post:
Woman Begging with Two Children — the eponymous painting from whose distinctive indigo fabric the entire group took its name — has entered a public collection. The @Pinacoteca_Zuest has received this canvas as a generous donation from the Fondazione Dr. Joseph Scholz (Zürich), ensuring that a work of remarkable art historical significance is now accessible to all. [...]
It was around this very composition that Gerlinde Gruber first assembled and published the group in 2006–2007, before Galerie Canesso presented The Master of the Blue Jeans. A New Painter of Reality in Late 17th-Century Europe in Paris and New York in 2010–2011 — an exhibition that brought this anonymous master to international attention and firmly established his place in the history of art, and in the history of the Blue Jeans fabric.
To see the painting that gave a name to an entire body of work enter a museum is, for us, the most fitting outcome imaginable.
