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A Question of Style

15th-century English alabaster carvings have often been described misleadingly as ‘Nottingham alabasters’. More careful scrutiny of the social and intellectual contexts of their production would furnish us with a greater sense of their cultural significance – and their rich artistry

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Unreal City

During the interwar years, architectural sculpture in London became the focus of fierce debates about the merits of realism and abstraction 

Vasari’s Michelangelo

Vasari’s life of Michelangelo has often been criticised for its self-interest. 

The Art of Diplomacy

Velázquez’s portrait of Francesco I d’Este is one of the highlights of the Galleria Estense in Modena. It has now been loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to raise awareness of the damage caused by the 2012 earthquake in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy 

Hall of Fame

The temporary return of Sir Robert Walpole’s outstanding picture collection to Houghton Hall has posed unique challenges to exhibition organisers. The process of securing loans and reconstructing Walpole’s hang has given rise to numerous surprises 

Houghton Revisited

Houghton Hall is a remarkable survival – a stately home that has remained largely unaltered since it was commissioned by Sir Robert Walpole in the 18th century. Lord Cholmondeley talks to Apollo about the history of the estate and his commitment to its future.