Art

Deeds Not Words: Slashing the Rokeby Venus

On 10 May 2024 the National Gallery reaches its 200th anniversary. From the suffragettes to Just Stop Oil, the gallery – specifically Diego Velásquez’s Rokeby Venus – has been a magnet for activists. Why?

Armless Fun?

In 1820 the discovery of an ancient Greek statue with missing arms posed more questions than answers.

In Pursuit of Pith

Flowers formed from pith paper captured the imagination of British society in the 19th century, sparking a search for the elusive ‘rice paper’ plant.