Martin Bailey

The source of infamous forger Van Meegeren’s secret supplies exposed

A Scotland Yard report shows that the notorious Dutch faker bought lapis lazuli paint for his “Vermeers” in bulk from Winsor & Newton

Tate Britain to be transformed in £45m project aimed to protect the works and please the guests

Millions needed to stop leaks, control humidity and open up the rotunda of the Victorian building

Extracts of Cyrus Cylinder found in China

British Museum curator has identified cuneiform text inscribed on horse bones.

Tatearchive

Tate receives US boost as major patrons donate Salle, Steinbach, and Martin

American patrons have recently been very generous to the gallery, with both their art and their funds

Chris Dercon as Tate Modern's new director

Outgoing director Vicente Todoli is off to seek new challenges

Vatican lends Raphael’s finest tapestries

Papal blessing and private funder for Victoria and Albert Museum’s Sistine show

Proposals for Hirst and Baselitz shared show at the Albertina abandoned due to artists' objections

The works will be placed in different rooms within the permanent collection after artists were unhappy with ideas for an exhibition displaying them together

Disputed bronzes cast from plasters attributed to Degas on show in Tel Aviv

Although the plaster's provenance and the project's credibility are under scrutiny, a New York dealer has initiated an exhibition at the Museum of Art

Vaticanarchive

The V&A and the RA compete to present a Vatican show timed to coincide with the first state visit to Britain of Pope Benedict XVI

V&A will reunite Raphael’s Sistine tapestries with their cartoons for first time in 500 years

Tatearchive

Tate to sell Muñoz staircase

For a work to be deaccessioned from the Tate is rare but permitted, in this case as a step toward upgrading the national collection

‘Infamous’ replica Leonardo on the block

In an unusual move, Sotheby’s has categorised a picture as “infamous”

'Where is the crown of Maqdala?', V&A asks Ethiopia

Crown that was returned in 1925 has disappeared

British Museum turns to Mecca and its holy pilgrimage

Exhibition aims to unravel the mysteries of the Hajj to non-Muslims

Iranarchive

Discovery of fragment belonging to British Museum's Cyrus cylinder further defers loan to Iran

This development has done little to alleviate lingering tensions between Iran and Britain

Prince of Liechtenstein cancels Royal Academy show

Ruler angry over block on Coello masterpiece

Prince of Liechtenstein threatens major Royal Academy show

If one of his works is not released by the UK authorities, an exhibition drawn from his collection will be pulled

Iranarchive

Iran's hackles rise as British Museum hesitates in Cyrus Cylinder lease

The museum director has reassured Iran's vice president that the wait does not mean the loan has been called off

Christie'sarchive

Top quality old masters under the hammer next month

Rembrandt, Domenichino, Raphael and Van Dyck all on offer, but how many will remain in the UK?

Cleaning shows that London’s Virgin of the Rocks is nearly all by the artist’s hand

After five years of research and conservation, Leonardo's masterpiece is once again looking its best

Courtauld “fake” exposed as a real Dutch period piece

Work attributed to 20th-century master forger Han van Meegeren may be 17th-century painting owned by Vermeer

Overhaul of Tate Britain could begin early 2010

The entire refurbishment project should conclude by 2020

V&Aarchive

Farewell to forgeries: The V&A’s Fakes Gallery to close

The V&A’s guidebook used to describe the Fakes Gallery as one of its “most diverse, intriguing and entertaining” displays.

Is very rare Benin ivory mask for sale?

Last of rare Benin ivories in private hands is expected to go on the market