Lost Page of Archimedes Palimpsest Found

lost page of archimedes palimpsest found 2753005

Researchers from France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) have identified a missing page from the Archimedes Palimpsest at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Blois. The leaf, identified as page 123, contains geometric diagrams and passages from the mathematician’s treatise on the sphere and the cylinder, which were scrubbed and overwritten by monks with religious texts in the 13th century. The discovery was confirmed by comparing the leaf to 1906 photographs taken by scholar Johan Ludvig Heiberg before the manuscript was broken up and partially forged by an art dealer in the 1930s.

archimedes palimpsest manuscript rediscovered 1234777245

A missing page from the Archimedes Palimpsest, the oldest surviving copy of the Greek mathematician’s writings, has been rediscovered at the Museum of Fine Arts in Blois, France. The 10th-century parchment, which had been missing for 120 years, contains portions of the treatise 'On the Sphere and the Cylinder' hidden beneath 20th-century illumination. The page was identified by a researcher from the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) after being unaccounted for since 1906.

elvira dyangani ose departs macba abu dhabi biennial 1234774295

Elvira Dyangani Ose is stepping down as the director of the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) in April, months before her contract was set to expire. Her resignation follows a conflict with the MACBA Consortium, which ruled that her new appointment as director of the Abu Dhabi Public Art Biennial was incompatible with her leadership role in Barcelona. Dyangani Ose, who became the first woman and first person of color to lead the institution in 2021, had requested to balance both positions, but the governing body denied the proposal.

mfa boston denies racial layoffs 2743776

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) has laid off 33 employees, approximately 6.3% of its staff, to address a projected $13 million structural deficit. Among those let go were the museum's only Black, Muslim, and Indigenous curators, leading to accusations that the cuts disproportionately targeted staff of color and undermined diversity initiatives.

vatican orders removal meloni fresco 2743309

The Vatican ordered the removal of an angel's face resembling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni from a fresco at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome. The fresco, painted by artist Bruno Valentinetti in 2000 and restored in 2023, features two angels praying over Italy's last king, Umberto II. After Italian media noted the likeness, Valentinetti initially denied it but later admitted the angel bore Meloni's features. On Tuesday, he painted over the face, citing Vatican orders. The Diocese of Rome confirmed the original face will be restored, and an investigation has been launched.

jeffrey epstein frick collection 2742398

Newly released documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case reveal the financier's intense personal interest in the Frick Collection, the museum located across from his Manhattan mansion. Epstein drafted letters opposing the museum's proposed expansion, criticizing plans as "brutish" and a "travesty," and claimed to have insider knowledge about the institution and its founder, Henry Clay Frick. He was joined in his opposition by other powerful neighbors, including billionaire Howard Lutnick.

walker art center closure ice protest 1234770547

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis will close on Friday, January 23, to participate in the Day of Truth and Freedom protest, a statewide general strike organized by local labor unions and community groups in response to increased ICE presence in Minnesota. The museum is the largest institution to join over 300 small businesses, cultural organizations, and nonprofits in shuttering for the day, citing its institutional values of community care and staff support. The closure follows ICE's Operation Metro Surge, which intensified enforcement in the Twin Cities, and the January 7 killing of U.S. citizen Renée Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, which sparked nationwide protests and lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security.

metropolitan museum art workers largest museum unions 1234770080

Nearly 1,000 salaried and hourly workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art voted on Friday to join Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers (UAW), creating one of the largest museum unions in the United States. The vote passed 542-172, covering staff across 50 departments including curators, conservators, librarians, and archivists. Roughly 100 ballots remain sealed due to a management challenge, to be resolved through arbitration after certification by the National Labor Relations Board. The union drive had been brewing for over four years, driven by concerns over job security, pay equity, and transparency.

cats medieval manuscripts walters art museum 2732418

The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore has opened an exhibition titled "Paws on Parchment," exploring the depiction of cats in medieval manuscripts from Europe, Asia, and the Islamic world. The show was inspired by a 15th-century Flemish manuscript that still bears the inky paw prints of a cat that walked across the pages while they were drying. Curator Lynley Anne Herbert assembled the exhibition after discovering the manuscript in the museum's collection, researching medieval poetry, bestiaries, and encyclopedic works to understand historical attitudes toward cats. The exhibition runs through February 22, 2026, and is the first of three shows dedicated to animals in art.

terracotta army damaged 2651752

A 30-year-old domestic tourist identified only by his surname Sun broke into the Terracotta Army Museum in Xi'an, China, on Friday, May 30. He scaled a fence and protective net surrounding an 18-foot pit, then pushed and pulled two of the ancient clay warriors, damaging them to varying degrees before being detained by security. Officials later stated that the man suffers from mental illness, and the incident is under investigation. The museum remains open to the public.

switzerland reject inheritance tax billionaires collectors 1234764622

Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed inheritance tax on Sunday, with 78% voting no. The tax, introduced by the Social Democrats, would have applied a 50% rate to inheritances and gifts exceeding 50 million Swiss francs (about $62.3 million). Billionaire Peter Spuhler threatened to leave the country if the tax passed, and Swiss wealth managers warned that other ultra-wealthy individuals would follow, citing their mobility and options to optimize taxes.

egypt grand museum ticketing issues political backlash 1234763326

Egyptian Member of Parliament Freddy Elbaiady publicly criticized the Grand Egyptian Museum's ticketing system, which imposes separate quotas for foreign tourists and Egyptian nationals. The controversy erupted after overcrowding on a single day saw over 27,000 tickets sold—exceeding the daily limit of 20,000—leading to thousands of frustrated visitors being denied entry. Elbaiady submitted a formal request to remove the quota, calling it discriminatory, and demanded a briefing from the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism. In response, the museum announced a shift to a pre-booking system with designated entry times, implemented last week, and starting December 1, online booking will be the only method for purchasing tickets.

us artists struggle with food and healthcare insecurity study 1234762540

A national survey commissioned by the Mellon Foundation and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago has produced a 102-page report on the livelihoods of 2,618 US artists across five disciplines—performing arts, visual arts, writing, craft arts, and other arts—broken into 37 subdisciplines. Key findings reveal that 34% of artists are fully self-employed, 50% are self-employed in their primary job, and 11% hold three or more jobs. More than 57% of artists report being worried about financial vulnerabilities, including food (22%), housing, medical costs (32%), or utilities, while 28% provide unpaid care for a loved one and 8% have served in the military.

grand egyptian museum ticketing policy 1234762334

The Grand Egyptian Museum, which opened on November 4 after two decades of planning, faced immediate crowd control issues after overselling tickets. More than 27,000 tickets were sold against a daily limit of 20,000, leading to thousands of frustrated visitors being denied entry. Museum CEO Ahmed Ghoneim announced a shift to an online-only booking system and pledged to reassess policies. Controversy also erupted over claims of a ticketing quota favoring foreigners over Egyptians, which Ghoneim denied, stating the museum would ensure no group exceeds a 60-40 split seasonally.

musems worried trump will end major tax deduction funding 1234755740

French museums are alarmed that the Trump administration may eliminate a key tax deduction mechanism known as the “equivalency determination,” which allows foreign organizations to receive tax-deductible donations from American patrons. The status is critical for museum-affiliated “American Friends” groups, such as the American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay and the American Friends of the Louvre, the latter of which raised $10 million last year. Lionel Sauvage, president of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, noted that about one-third of his museum’s annual donations—over $2 million—come from American donors. While no concrete action has been taken, Bloomberg reported in April that the administration was considering the move as part of a broader crackdown on tax-exempt nonprofits. Jewish philanthropic organizations have also expressed concern, with the Jewish Funders Network advising compliance amid uncertainty.

israeli airstrike doha qatar risk of planning art basel fair 1234751253

On Tuesday, Israel carried out a missile strike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas leaders, with explosions reported in the Leqtaifiya neighborhood and smoke visible over the Katara cultural district. The strike comes as a shock to Qatar, which has built a reputation for stability and is home to major art institutions operated by Qatar Museums, including Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar, and the Museum of Islamic Art. Art Basel, which announced in May a partnership with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+ to launch Art Basel Doha in February 2026, said it is closely monitoring developments and remains committed to the fair's inaugural edition.

homeland security puerto rican museum chicago 2666579

Officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arrived at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (NMPRAC) in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood on Tuesday, with between 15 and 20 DHS vehicles appearing without notice or a warrant. Museum staff reported that officers claimed to be assessing entry and exit points for undocumented immigrants at upcoming events. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin denied the account, stating the visit was a briefing for a narcotics investigation, but security camera footage shows officers inside the museum, contradicting her statement. Local aldermen and museum leadership condemned the action as intimidation, with the museum vowing to resist and continue its community programming.

israeli attacks on palestinian heritage sites constitute war crimes un report 1234745459

A United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded that Israeli attacks on cultural and religious sites in occupied Palestinian territory constitute war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination. The report focuses on ten specific sites in Gaza, including the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius, the Great Omari mosque, Al Mat'haf Museum, and the Pasha Palace Museum, which were destroyed, looted, or severely damaged between October and December 2023. The commission found that Israeli security forces should have known the locations and significance of these sites and that their attacks violated international law, including intentionally directing attacks against religious and historic monuments and causing excessive damage to civilian objects.

original prototype jane birkin hermes handbag sothebys 1234744596

Jane Birkin's original Hermès Birkin handbag prototype has been consigned to Sotheby's Paris for sale in July. The all-black leather bag, commissioned in 1984 by then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas in collaboration with Birkin, is a one-of-a-kind piece that has been in a private collection in France since 2000. Sotheby's has not set a public estimate, citing its unique status, and will communicate it privately to potential bidders. The bag was exhibited at Sotheby's Paris and Hong Kong, and previously at the Museum of Modern Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

harvard cedes early images of enslaved americans legal settlement 1234743708

Harvard University has transferred ownership of fifteen daguerreotypes from around 1850, considered the earliest surviving photographs of enslaved African Americans, to the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. The settlement ends an eight-year legal dispute with Tamara Lanier, who claimed the images depict her ancestors, Renty and Delia, and argued they were taken without consent for the discredited biologist Louis Agassiz. The Massachusetts courts had previously ruled that ownership remained with the photographer, but allowed Lanier to pursue emotional distress claims over Harvard's continued use of the images in marketing materials.

Charlotte Gere obituary

Art historian Charlotte Gere has died at the age of 88. A specialist in 19th-century art and design, she was the author of seminal works like 'Victorian Jewellery Design' and played a key role in rediscovering the lost jewels of architect William Burges, turning her research into compelling detective stories.

Lloyd Le Blanc obituary

Sculptor Lloyd Le Blanc has died at the age of 85. He was known for creating large-scale bronze works of flora and fauna and, with his wife Judith Holmes Drewry, established the Le Blanc Fine Art foundry and studios in Saxby, Leicestershire. Le Blanc was involved in every stage of his sculptures' creation and also cast works for other artists from his foundry.

Racine Art Museum announces sizzling slate of summer events

The Racine Art Museum (RAM) and its Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts campus have announced a packed schedule of summer events for 2026, including new programs like the Twilight Garden Series, which combines cocktails, creativity, and themed activities. Highlights include Free First Friday, a Master Workshop with artist Liandra Skenandore on black ash plaiting, Kids Day inspired by the Handcrafted exhibition, and City Movie Night featuring a screening of Lilo & Stitch (2025). Wustum also offers one of Wisconsin's largest museum-based studio arts programs with over 60 class options in ceramics, drawing, glass, fiber, jewelry, painting, and paper arts.

How super-skinny red carpet trend at Met Gala clashes with own its body-positive Costume Art show

The Met Gala, organized by Vogue and themed around "costume art," was accompanied by an exhibition of the same name at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art opening May 10, focusing on the dressed body. While the exhibition has been praised for using inclusive mannequins representing diverse body types—including variously abled, fat, thin, and pregnant forms—the red carpet was criticized for its overwhelming thinness and the involvement of honorary chairs Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who reportedly sponsored the event for $10 million, sparking boycott calls. Fashion commentators like Diet Prada noted the Gala was more poorly received than ever, with some celebrities absent.

Met Inaugurates ‘Costume Art’ for the Spring 2026 Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will open 'Costume Art' in spring 2026, a major exhibition that positions fashion as a lens for examining the human body across cultures and history. Housed in a new 12,000-square-foot gallery adjacent to the Great Hall, the show pairs garments from The Costume Institute with ancient statues, artworks, and paintings, organized around thematic body types such as idealized, distorted, exposed, and reclaimed. The exhibition design by Peterson Rich Office uses sheer scrims and varied ceiling heights to create an immersive, interconnected experience.

Bvlgari enters the inner circle of the Venice Biennale

Bvlgari has become the first Exclusive Partner of La Biennale di Venezia, a landmark agreement that extends through 2030. The Roman jeweler will inaugurate its role at the 2026 Venice Biennale with two major initiatives: a newly created Bvlgari Pavilion at the Giardini featuring Canadian artist Lotus L. Kang, and an exhibition at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana curated by Fondazione Bvlgari, presenting works by Italian artists Lara Favaretto and Monia Ben Hamouda.

Bath museum to host artist workshop, lecture series in conjunction with exhibition

Maine Maritime Museum in Bath is hosting an artist workshop and lecture series from May through August 2025, tied to its exhibition “Re|Sounding.” Each month, a different contributing artist will lead a session exploring a specific medium—painting, oral storytelling, assemblage, or poetry—as a tool for examining local and personal histories. The first event on May 10 features James Eric Francis Sr., the Penobscot Nation’s tribal historian and visual artist, who will give a lecture, lead a painting workshop, and have his works on view in the exhibition. Attendance is on a sliding scale.

INSIDE THE 2026 MET EXHIBITION ON FASHION AS ART

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2026 exhibition 'Costume Art' explores how standards of form, modesty, and exposure have evolved across history and cultures. The show is organized into sections examining the classical body, distorted bodies through corsets and bustles, and reclaimed bodies by designers like Rei Kawakubo, Duran Lantink, and Michaela Stark. Another section focuses on the 'Anatomical' and 'Mortal' bodies, highlighting universal experiences such as aging and mortality. Mannequins represent diverse body types—pregnant, plus-size, disabled, and non-conforming—modeled after real people including Sinéad Burke, Aariana Rose Philip, Aimee Mullins, and Yseult, with reflective steel faces designed by artist Samar Hejazi.

Five-Minute Tours: “IN SEARCH OF HISTORY” at Throughline, Houston

Glasstire's Five-Minute Tours series features a video walk-through of "IN SEARCH OF HISTORY" at Throughline in Houston, an exhibition juried by Lisa Volpe and presented in conjunction with FotoFest 2026. Running from February 19 to March 21, 2026, the show includes works by 15 artists—Kelly Berry, Angela Cappetta, Brian Edwards Jr., William Gerst, Cynthia Greig, Abbey Hepner, Finn Hewes, Charles Muir Lovell, Julie Mardin, Marilyn Marzella, Liz Obert, Brynne Quinlan, Julia Gabriel Weber, Suzanne Theodora White, and Morgan Ford Willingham—exploring the evolution of lens-based art in the 21st century.

Missoula Art Museum opens new exhibit with acclaimed artist

The Missoula Art Museum has opened a new exhibition featuring acclaimed artist Sara Siestreem. Her latest body of work includes large, multi-panel paintings, basket weaving, ceramics, and sculpture, all unified by geometric designs inspired by traditional weaving patterns. A reception was held on opening night, with a second artist talk scheduled for Saturday morning.