Anna Somers Cocks

Fairsnews

Comment: Is expertise at risk at the Victoria and Albert Museum?

The world’s greatest museum of decorative arts has been without a ceramics expert since 2016 and other gaps in knowledge are opening up

A totem sculpture, Physical Energy, to rise up in the woods south of London

The Watts Gallery Trust has authorised a cast of this masterpiece by George Frederick Watts to celebrate his bicentenary

Iconoclasm rejected “by all God-given religions”, declares the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

President Hollande and UAE set up $45m fund and support “safe havens” for heritage at risk

Abu Dhabi Art, the jolly fair, changes directors

Last month’s edition was the last for Rita Aoun, who has made the event a popular annual fixture since its first appearance in 2008

British artist Idris Khan creates UAE’s first war memorial

This product of the country’s first war stresses the unity of the seven emirates

Why I like Art Abu Dhabi more than Art Basel in Miami Beach

The conversations are better, the public is enthusiastic, and there is enough, but not too much art—and it’s good

Row over Temple Mount in Jerusalem is reignited

Israel attacks Unesco over pro-Palestinian resolution approved by World Heritage Committee<br>

The Art Newspaper’s 25th anniversary survey

Ahead of our investigation at the Vatican on 6 October, we want to know your thoughts on what is art for

How Italy stopped Venice being put on Unesco’s Heritage In Danger list

The government lobbied the director of the World Heritage Centre, diplomats and national delegates

Featuresfeature

What academics can teach us about Isil

The Warburg Institute’s director is tapping into its founder Aby Warburg’s approach to historical images to explain Daesh’s shocking brutality

Talking about art in Isil times

Under the leadership of Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, the March Meeting in Sharjah did not shy away from the pain, extremism and corruption of the world today

Sharjah discusses meaning of art in the time of Isil and Hezbollah

Anna Somers Cocks attended the annual March Meeting and found it did not shy away from the pain, extremism and corruption of the world today

Fairsnews

Put these on your shopping list

From Danish deck chairs to Ancient Egyptian art, we select some of the highlights at Tefaf this month

Artnews

Leila Alaoui, a talent cut short by terrorists in Burkina Faso

33-year-old's works were on show at Maison européenne de la Photographie shortly before she was killed

Artnews

Three good reasons why Brisbane’s Asia Pacific Triennial is the tops

No commercial influence, no contemporary-art imperialism and no diva curator

Artnews

‘Art provides the answers to questions no one has asked’

The second “What is Art For?” investigation took place in the Hermitage Theatre last month

Booksnews

My favourite poems, by the very English Rex Whistler

His biographers have published his commonplace book in facsimile

Booksnews

Brian Sewell's tribute to the Rolls Royce

The art critic, who died earlier this year, loved art, dogs and great cars

Featuresfeature

Jewels with a past and a soul: Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani on his collection

As an exhibition of his jewellery opens at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Qatari prince discusses his love of England, his passion for the applied arts and how, through constant reading, he continues to refine his taste

Was this unknown man Italy’s greatest collector?

Federico Cerruti died with a treasure-filled house in which he had slept only one night

Italy’s museums honour archaeologist murdered by Isil

Flags were flown at half-mast around the country and heritage experts shared their outrage

Isil bulldozes 1,500-year-old Catholic church in Syria

Frescoes recently found in the church may date back to the sixth century, which would make them the oldest Christian paintings in the country

Venice mayor holds up show to further his cruise ship aims

Photos of the “monsters in Venice” should have been displayed in the Doge’s Palace in September

National Gallery chairman writes revealing roman-à-clef

A Vanity Fair of the art world in a thriller about an imaginary Watteau