art conservation

Vatican cleans salt buildup off Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgment’

Restorers at the Vatican are removing a chalky white film of salt from Michelangelo's "The Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel, the first major cleaning of the fresco since a comprehensive restoration concluded in the 1990s. The Vatican gave journalists…

Twin Vermeer guitar paintings reunite after 300 years

For the first time in over three centuries, two nearly identical paintings of a woman playing guitar are displayed side by side at London's Kenwood House, reigniting one of art history's most persistent mysteries. The exhibition "Double Vision: Vermeer," which…

Van Gogh Museum threatens closure over funding dispute

Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum announced it may be forced to close unless the Dutch government provides an additional €2.5 million ($2.9 million) annually for critical infrastructure repairs, marking an escalation in a two-year funding dispute that has now reached the…

UK museum saves rare Hepworth sculpture from export

A rare Barbara Hepworth sculpture will remain in the UK after The Hepworth Wakefield successfully raised £3.8 million to prevent its export, following a remarkable public fundraising campaign that generated over 2,800 individual donations alongside support from major cultural foundations.

Vatican to restore Michelangelo’s Last Judgment in 2026

The Vatican Museums have announced an extraordinary restoration of Michelangelo's Last Judgment fresco in the Sistine Chapel beginning in early 2026, representing the most extensive conservation effort on the Renaissance masterpiece in decades. The project is urgently needed to protect…