Vincent Noce

The blueprint for Saudi Arabia's multi-billion-euro project with France

We exclusively reveal the details of the plans for a “historic” collaboration

Damning report says France must catch up, fast, in return of Nazi-era loot

Heritage expert calls for new government taskforce to guide provenance research and even rule on restitution cases

From Brussels to Bogotá: where will the Pompidou pop up next?

As museum's teaser show opens in the Belgian capital, its president, Serge Lasvignes, tells us about branching out from Paris

Louvre’s director: we are active in 75 countries

Jean-Luc Martinez says the museum’s international projects have skyrocketed over the past five years

France to help build a 'new Petra' in Saudi Arabia with estimated $20bn development deal

The country is due to sign a massive contract with the kingdom to turn Mada’in Saleh and the Al-Ula region into a cultural tourism destination

Louvre says ‘non’ to minister’s Mona Lisa grand tour

Françoise Nyssen proposed lending the work as a way to fight “cultural segregation”

Against the odds, Louvre exhibition opens in Tehran in historic deal

French museum became first cultural institution to secure ties with Islamic regime after sanctions lifted in 2016

French court annuls conviction for electrician in possession of stolen Picasso works

Another court will have to uncover how the 271 works were stolen and by whom before being received by Pierre and Danielle Le Guennec

Yves Bouvier faces fresh charges in Switzerland

The Swiss freeport magnate has been charged with fraud after the Russian collector Dmitri Rybolovlev filed a new criminal complaint in Switzerland

Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac Museum in Paris is ready to return African art

Head of the ethnographic institution applauds President Macron’s pledge to hand back African cultural heritage

World's largest collection of manuscripts from bankrupt firm Aristophil to be sold in Paris

Auctioneer Claude Aguttes will sell the collection of historic books and manuscripts across 300 sales over at least six years as part of liquidation

Podcastsfeature

Podcast episode seven: the tale of an Old Master forgery scandal

The 'masterpieces' that fooled the art world. Plus: a review of London's latest shows, from Cezanne to Soutine.

Victory for Matisse family in $4.5m cut-out battle with dealer

Paris art dealer Jérôme Le Blay ordered to hand over works to artist’s descendants

Islamic State's looting of antiquities is rising but hard facts remain scarce

Experts question the reported size of illicit trade, particularly as the number of fake artefacts increases

Audrey Azoulay, former French culture minister, to be Unesco’s next director-general

In a surprise election, the dark-horse candidate won the vote of the culture agency’s executive board

Matisse’s heirs claim two cut-outs worth $4.5m

French appeal court to decide case brought by company based in Hong Kong against artist’s family

La Biennale Paris aims to put controversy behind it

The revamped fair opened this week to mixed reviews from press and participants

Pierre Bergé, French entrepreneur and art collector, dies aged 86

His death comes shortly before the opening of two museums dedicated to his long-term partner, the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent

Exclusive: the first interview with Louvre Abu Dhabi’s French director

High-flying civil servant Manuel Rabaté describes how the museum will work

interview by Vincent Noce

Louvre Abu Dhabi to open on 11 November

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit the Emirate for the inauguration of the international museum

Art marketfeature

Can new leadership and a change of name save the Biennale Paris?

For its 55th birthday, the fair formerly known as the Biennale des Antiquaires is hoping for a “renewal” after a difficult 2016 edition

Pinault’s (circular) designs on Paris

Billionaire seals deal to create museum in historic former stockmarket building

Louvre Abu Dhabi to open in November, sources say

The exact date has yet to be fixed, but the building is in the final phases of testing before art collection and loans are installed

Featuresfeature

Symbiotic siblings: Alberto and Diego Giacometti

As a major survey opening this month at Tate Modern confirms, Alberto Giacometti’s reputation as a 20th-century great is assured. But his younger brother Diego’s role cannot be overlooked

Laure de Beauvau-Craon, princess and former chair of Sotheby’s France, has died, aged 74

She fought a centuries-old monopoly of the country’s auction market—and won

Lawnews

Yves Bouvier clears legal hurdle in Singapore

Court of appeal rules that Switzerland is a "more appropriate forum" for civil lawsuit against the Swiss businessman by collector Dmitry Rybolovlev

Artist's resale rights must be paid by sellers, French court rules

Decision is latest twist in long-running legal battle involving Christie's

PAD Paris loses its vetting committee after opening of 20th anniversary edition this week

The organisation commissioned to examine the works offered at the fair dropped out citing a lack of professionalism and “disrespect” of the experts’ mission

Global fund to protect cultural heritage launches with $75m and board led by US billionaire Thomas Kaplan

On Friday, France will propose a new resolution to UN Security Council to safeguard sites in conflict zones around the world