Louis XIV – the Sun King – was a great patron of the liberal arts but is now best remembered for constructing the dazzling Versailles Palace. The masterpiece of the Versailles gardens is the massive Latona Fountain which has just undergone a three year restoration to mark the 300th anniversary of the monarch’s death. Multiple images are here.
The Venice Biennale which opens this week is, according to some, the art world’s most important global gathering. It is titled ‘All the World’s Futures’ – though the curator says it has no over-arching theme – and will run until November 22. This review gives an idea of the scale of the event and some highlights.
Scholarly debate has raged for years on how to interpret the paintings of Nicolas Poussin. Conventional wisdom (following art historian Anthony Blunt) has emphasised his Stoic philosophy. It now appears that Blunt not only concealed his true identity as a Soviet spy but he also suppressed evidence of Poussin’s orthodox Catholic outlook. The Louvre has mounted an exhibition of Poussin’s work in support of this new scholarship.
Interesting short lesson in art history. Grotesque art only got its name when Roman buildings were excavated during the Renaissance. The ‘art of the grottoes’ had an immediate impact on contemporary artists such as Raphael and has remained influential via artists such as Goya and the Surrealists. Today, computer generated graphics and new materials promise a new age of the horrible.