France

Louvre secures key Italian loans for Leonardo retrospective

The Vitruvian Man—normally only shown for a few weeks every six years—will travel from Venice’s Gallerie dell'Accademia to Paris

Pre-Columbian auction in Paris goes ahead in face of protest from Guatemala and Mexico

Although one Mayan relief was withdrawn, the Mexican government condemned the "illegal" sale but auctioneer Millon defends it as "perfectly legitimate"

Installation of Jeff Koons's controversial Bouquet of Tulips begins in Paris

The sculpture will now go on show near the Champs-Elysées, after previous location near the Palais de Tokyo was strongly opposed

Isenheim altarpiece restorers invite visitors in

Laser imaging comes to aid of restoration of 16th-century paintings and sculptures

The travel books of Eugène Delacroix have now been translated into English

These notebooks reveal how the artist discovered the "real" Orient in North Africa and southern Spain and adjusted his paintings accordingly

New law regarding Notre Dame says restoration must preserve its 'historic, artistic and architectural interest'

But attempts in the senate to ensure it will look as before the fire were dropped from the final version

Emma Lavigne lined up as new president of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris

Director of the Centre Pompidou-Metz would be first woman to hold the position

A missing chapter in the history of the decorative arts: the Restoration and July Monarchy

Louvre-organised show at the Grand Palais of neglected period of production

France retreats from report recommending automatic restitutions of looted African artefacts

Suggestions from controversial Savoy-Sarr report were all-but buried at a conference held in Paris

Three become one: Montpellier Contemporain unites art school with exhibition venues

The newly created institution will involve all 200 students of the Montpellier School of Fine Arts

Bordeaux gets €60m Meca for creative industries

Bjarke Ingels-designed culture hub will be the new home of the Frac regional contemporary art centre

Former Louvre director donates his collection to forthcoming museum devoted to the 'Sun King'

Pierre Rosenberg has pledged his collection of works by Charles Le Brun and other artists to the new museum

Designs for new D-Day monument in Normandy will go on sale at Masterpiece

David Williams-Ellis' sculpture for the British Normandy Memorial will be unveiled today by May and Macron

More grief for Aristophil investors as French government seizes hundreds of documents

Around 18,000 people invested in the now bankrupted company's manuscripts collection, but state says many items of historical importance should never have been sold

Paris news

Louvre is 'suffocating' with high volume of visitors, striking workers say

Paris museum closed its doors after union officials protest about angry public and poor security measures

Podcastspodcast

The Notre Dame fire: what happens next? Plus, Cold War Steve

We talk about the effects of the fire at Notre Dame, the building’s history, and what happens next. And we speak to satirical artist Christopher Spencer, the man behind Cold War Steve. Produced in association with Bonhams, auctioneers since 1793.

Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by Julia Michalska, David Clack and Aimee Dawson

Artist Wim Delvoye enters design competition to reconstruct Notre Dame

The Belgian, known for his sculptures in a Northern European Gothic style, is already devising a new spire

Paris's Medieval muse: ten of the most famous works of art inspired by Notre Dame

From Jean Fouquet and Jacques-Louis David to Picasso and Damien Hirst, artists across the ages have captured the French cathedral

Precious works rescued from Notre Dame to be transferred to the Louvre

Crown of Thorns and St Louis tunic are among the artefacts to have been saved, while paintings inside the cathedral will be removed and restored

Trump’s tweets on Notre Dame blaze fall foul of French fire officials

US President proposed water bombing the cathedral but this risks weakening the structure, say experts

Church and State disagree over management of religious heritage in France

The country possesses more than 32,000 churches, 6,000 chapels and 87 cathedrals. Their dual administration has caused serious problems of management and conservation

Notre Dame will be rebuilt, President Macron confirms

As the extent of the damage continues to be assessed, investigation into cause of devastating fire begins

Notre Dame benefits from the battle of the billionaires

Competitive philanthropy can help save France’s flagship cathedral

Fire destroys roof of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris

The 19th-century spire has collapsed on the medieval landmark

French sculptor Claude Lalanne has died, aged 93

Her imaginative works inspired by flora and fauna sometimes carried a Surrealist touch

Historic Bernheim-Jeune and Fine Art Society galleries shut up shop

A sign of the times, two of London and Paris’s oldest firms closed their premises in the traditional art heartlands of the cities

Paris digital art venue Atelier des Lumières is a hit, and expanding abroad

French museums operator Culturespaces has launched a space in South Korea and is planning another in Bordeaux in 2020