Links for February 4, 2026

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it’s her. After repeatedly denying that she had painted his portrait Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni Fresco of an angel in an old church that he was tasked with restoring, artists and craftsmen Bruno Valentiti changed his tone and told La Repubblica, “Yes, it’s the Prime Minister’s face.” Still, he insists his rendering is “similar to previous paintings.” Not similar enough. His overreach prompted a backlash from lawmakers, who denounced it as a form of “secret propaganda” at Rome’s San Lorenzo cathedral, while the Vatican said the church needed to stay out of politics. Sacred art exists for “liturgical life and prayer” and cannot be “distorted or exploited”, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Rome, Baldazarena. The Vatican has ordered a redo, prompting Valentiti to erase his tribute to Meloni. Meanwhile, experts are studying photos of the original angel painting to serve as more accurate models for the newly painted face.

Columbus Day. President Trump Plans have been announced to install a statue christopher columbus The sculpture, which was reportedly thrown into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor by protesters in 2020 and subsequently restored, is located on the south side of the grounds outside the White House. Washington Post. The statue was erected by President Ronald Reagan It has been a source of conflict between Italian-American heritage groups and critics who see it as whitewashing Columbus’ record of brutal violence against Native Americans. For a group of Italian Americans who rebuilt the damaged statue, “it’s not about Columbus ‘discovering America’ … it’s about the Italian immigrants who came here and considered Columbus a hero,” said Bill Martin, who helped rebuild the original sculpture. In other news about the president’s cultural meddling, he suddenly announced he would be closing kennedy center After two years of renovations. this postal There have been reports of the disruptive impact this has had on performers and crews, including three Broadway tours, for whom it is “nearly impossible” to reroute shows, and the resulting financial losses could force the tours to shut down. Trump offered few assurances about plans for the Kennedy Center, telling reporters: “I’m not going to tear it down. I’m going to use steel. So we use the structure, we use some of the marble, and some of the marble will be removed.”

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An open letter signed by 500 signatories, including numerous artists and several Jewish groups, demanding curatorial independence from the Art Gallery of Toronto art gallery of ontario (AGO), after the agency decided not to acquire new works Nan Goldin. [ARTnews]

A Los Angeles couple is suing the city Mayor Karen Bass stop their demolition plans marilyn monroe’s former residence, designated as a historical and cultural monument. [Los Angeles Times]

A new report by Trakfen It has been revealed that art trafficking alerts issued have increased by 112% in three years. [Le Figaro]

first session Ayanyani Pavilion In New Delhi, initiated by Nature and Arts Alanyanidesigned by architecture studio T_M spaceFeaturing a curved structure, the roof is planted with more than 40 species of native plants. name sacred natureThe Spiral Pavilion at Sound Nursery Park will remain open until February 20. [Dezeen]

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Velázquez family feud. Historians tend to depict the famous Spanish court painter Diego Velazquez A discreet man, his private life was a picture of noble restraint. but as times of london There was reportedly a lot of drama behind the scenes. Newly discovered documents reveal his daughter, Francescaand his disciples, Juan Bautista Martinez del Masobecame embroiled in the very scandal Velazquez was trying to prevent. In fact, his daughter was only 14 at the time and Mazzo was 27. Her perspective is severely missing from the records, but after attempts to hide her in a convent failed, Francesca admitted to being engaged to Mazo, and the two were legally united in 1633. Mazo studied Velázquez’s techniques and eventually became the official court painter after Velázquez’s death in 1660.