What exhibitions are on your radar? This show at the British Museum is now on our must see list thanks to JANUSZCZAK for featuring it in The Times & Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.com/article/175e431f-8bbe-4677-a344-659433da22ea?shareToken=0c7deddb1f5b0c2e7800e305b4ed53b2

Tune in to the latest Waldy & Bendy podcast focussed on @bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social revealing the secrets of Holbein's The Ambassadors. A really refreshing change of format to a deep dive into a well known masterpiece. zczfilms.com/podcasts/sea... #ArtHistory

"If Constable had painted still lifes while Turner did portraits we would not have needed to pitch one against the other..." Waldemar proclaims Turner triumphant, do you agree? https://www.thetimes.com/article/7fb0d4cf-bfd1-4fa7-9704-6ba805c7ed1b?shareToken=dbdf232cbc2e2a25081331ff1cf4c722

Did hosting leave your furniture in need of some TLC? Removing stains and ring marks, followed by a good professional wax can transform a table, sideboard or console. We can breathe new life into period or contemporary pieces. https://plowden-smith.com/furniture-restoration-london/

Gustave Doré Born this day in 1832 is famous for his engravings illustrating classic literature such as Paradise Lost with tempestuous skies, angelic and demonic figures. Doré employed teams of engravers and block cutters to turn his illustrations into printmaking plates. #ArtHistory #Printmaking

To all our clients and colleagues, wishing you prosperity and joy for 2026! We hope this New Years Eve is one to remember and we look forward to hearing from you in the New Year. We are back in action on January 5th. #NewYearsEve

Merry Christmas! This Madonna Della Strada, along with its incredible ornate frame, was restored recently in our studios. The frame was a mixture of gold and silver leaf now restored to its original glory and returned to the Oxford Oratory. https://plowden-smith.com/gilding-services/

Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?🎵🎶 #ChristmasEve #Slade #Cattelan

Our office, studios and workshops will close today until Monday 5th January. We would like to wish all our followers a Merry Christmas and wish you joy and prosperity for 2026. https://plowden-smith.com/

Basquiat was born today — and the art world has never been the same. His graffiti alter-ego SAMO is well known however tags rarely appear for sale. The first recorded sale in 2020 was reported by Artnet: https://news.artnet.com/market/basquiat-samo-tag-capsule-auctions-1878054 #JeanMichelBasquiat

Who is your favourite Renaissance artist? Despite dying at only 26, Masaccio revolutionized painting and is now revered as one of the earliest masters of the Italian Renaissance. Pictured here "The Tribute Money" is one of many Masaccio frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel, Florence.

We recommend Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A which combines original artifacts from the life of the ill-fated queen, alongside examples of her ongoing influence on fashion and design. https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/marie-antoinette #MarieAntoinette #MarieAntoinetteStyle #VAM #Exhibition

Of course everyone's well organised with all gifts wrapped and under the tree. But, just in case, we found this list from Historic Houses a huge help finding unusual items for the hard-to-buy-for history lover. Gift Shops at Historic Houses https://www.historichouses.org/gift-shops/

Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible – Paul Klee Born this day in 1879, a pioneer of modern art, his ability to make the invisible tangible is why his work continues to inspire artists around the globe. #PaulKlee #ModernArt #ArtistBirthday

Paul Cadmus would have celebrated a birthday today. The artist who turned realism into rebellion and painted bodies with unmatched precision. 🎂🎨 #OTD #PaulCadmus This article from the Met on censorship of Cadmus' work is a great read: https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/paul-cadmus-the-fleets-in

Absolutely loved the full play through of the Jane Austen inspired shipping forecast this morning. #JaneAusten250

Recently JANUSZCZAK was accused by Tracy Emin for being too negative. The result: a spell of benevolent positivity from the critic. For the past two weeks he’s been back to his old self, pulling no punches, and taunting Dr Bendor Grosvenor FRHistS with rats! Which “wald” do you prefer?

Sad news this weekend that photographer Martin Parr passed away. His remarkable legacy extends beyond iconic images. His Foundation in Bristol and his passion for the photo book as an artistic medium steered discourse around documentary photography in recent years. martinparrfoundation.org

We are delighted to be working with Morley College to conserve Martin Froy’s Sun Up and Sun Down murals: https://plowden-smith.com/conservation-starts-on-martin-froy-murals-at-morley-college/ #Mural #PublicArt #PaintingConservation

Divisive but undoubtably influential. No, not Waldemar, Charles Saatchi. JANUSZCZAK offers an art world insider's insight into the elusive ad man's impact over 40 years in the art world https://www.thetimes.com/article/0c08edcf-5663-490d-afc5-316a22dc6325?shareToken=55c15475ee3e821535337bab8a935e8a

Now open - a new art deco exhibition showcasing the golden age of poster design from the 1920s and 30s at London Transport Museum. https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/news/now-open-new-art-deco-exhibition-showcasing-golden-age-poster-design-london-transport-museum

"Here she deals recurringly with bigger groups and more complex compositions." JANUSZCZAK on Chantal Joffe, Tintoretto, and Joseph Wright of Derby in his latest Sunday Times piece. https://www.thetimes.com/article/0e108325-7113-4a07-8235-e1a059071427?shareToken=06ea7bfaa1e51a86e9c587c6ad2cec82

Sunday is the final day to visit Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair now in its 10th edition. The fair combines galleries specialising in prints & multiples, and printmaking demonstrations to give visitors a greater insight into the methods employed by printmakers today. woolwichprintfair.com

Was it your birthday this week? You are in fine creative company: What a week it has been for artist birthdays, French artists to be precise: Today Monet, Wednesday Rodin, Tuesday Vuillard. Santé! 🖼️Claude Monet (1840–1926) - La Gare Saint-Lazare 1877

"David Hockney at 88 — he’s begun his last dance with the joy of a child." @JANUSZCZAK in The Times David Hockney: The Moon Room and Some Very, Very, Very New Paintings Not Yet Shown in Paris is at Annely Juda Fine Art, London, until Feb 28 www.thetimes.com/article/3a87...

"Now, from far out in the left field, comes a show posing the question: Can we stop killing each other?" JANUSZCZAK reviews the latest Sainsbury Centre exhibition, until May 17, 2026 https://www.thetimes.com/article/b26f469e-b437-42ef-8cf5-cfbc2311ce25?shareToken=5f708457491f1afed7b52be09513c78a

Tomorrow (November 4th) is #AskAConservator day. Reply with your conservation questions or use the # Ask a conservator day was created to remember the flooding of Florence in 1966, which damaged priceless cultural heritage, and the incredible efforts made to conserve the items impacted.

We've had an amazing week at the LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair. Six conservators have demonstrated conservation techniques for works on paper, paintings, ceramics, Gilding and metals. Today is the final day to visit where we'll be talking all about Silver on stand B28

"What’s going on? I won’t make the mistake here of trying to solve the riddle. In Doig’s art, there are no solutions." JANUSZCZAK on House of Music at the Serpentine Gallery until Feb 8 https://www.thetimes.com/article/31fb24a7-dbfc-45cc-8f13-685db9e4eff6?shareToken=a47e955fe331e4884a151b0caebd5dfc

Wonderful interview with Ed Ruscha in @thetimes.com ahead of a new show at the Gagosian London: Ed Ruscha: Says I, to Myself, Says I until December 19th www.thetimes.com/article/64d1... #Ruscha #EdRuscha #Gagosian

Born this day in 1901 Alberto Giacometti, was one of the most influential sculptors of the 20thC. His work is currently presented at Barbican with new works by contemporary artists until May 2026. https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2025/series/encounters-giacometti #Giacometti #Barbican #Sculpture

Exciting news, we're going to be at the LAPADA Fair this year showcasing our conservation work. More updates soon...

Do you know your rust from your iron oxide? Bronze disease from Verdigris? We delve into the topic of corrosion and patination with our metals conservator Hal: https://plowden-smith.com/conservation-conversations-patina-vs-corrosion/

Exciting news in Conservation Science: the Getty Research Institute, University of Akron & New York University have developed a safer more sustainable substitute to an essential paintings conservation adhesive: www.getty.edu/news/scienti... #PaintingConservation #FineArtConservation

"I mention it here because the show does not and seems keen to keep things polite." Waldemar Janusczcak sees great things in the Lee Miller retrospective but asks for more early-life context. The Times' Chief Arts Critic reviews Lee Miller @ Tate Britain www.thetimes.com/article/0725... #photography

What's your favourite arts podcast? Its the equinox and we're looking for something to get into as the evenings draw in. #Podcasts #Equinox

Making Isinglass in our paper conservation studio. Isinglass is used to consolidate parchment. Parchment is made from treated animal skins, which is why the consolidant used is different to those more commonly used in our Paper studio for works on paper. #PaperConservation #Parchment #Conservator

"It happened to Caravaggio, Vermeer, even Rembrandt. Forgotten for centuries, they needed to wait to be remembered. It’s what happened as well to Georges de la Tour." Waldemar Januszczak reviews Georges de la Tour at the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris: www.thetimes.com/article/0407... #OldMasters

We couldn't quite believe the news from @theartnewspaper.bsky.social about the passing of Giorgio Armani having just read an interview with him in the FT published the weekend prior to the designer's death aged 91. www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/09/05/g...

The National Gallery announces new wing and move into modern art. Reported in @thetimes.com by Nancy Durrant www.thetimes.com/article/5513... #NationalGallery #ModernArt

"Everyone thinks of Van Gogh and his Sunflowers as a joyous explosion of horticultural ecstasy and summer love. But not Gauguin." Waldemar Januszczak explores artists painting artists in @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/article/ff47...

"Scholars will not be able to resist speculating. Could this portrait have been a gift from Southampton to Shakespeare? … no other man of the time cultivated as androgynous an image." @rhysblakely.bsky.social reports a portrait miniature with a hidden secret: www.thetimes.com/article/ba9c...

‪Our #Exhibition pick of the week is the @royalsculptors.bsky.social "Spaceshifting". The society has invited its international members to show works in the Central Lounge of the luxurious Royal Over-Seas League Clubhouse. Admission is free but booking is required. sculptors.org.uk/whats-on/202...

Looking away from art for a second.. that was a close match, we're celebrating a different bronze today. #euros

Happy Friday! Here's our exhibition picks of the week from Scotland, Yorkshire, London and Paris: #WhatsOn #Exhibition #Gallery #Museums

Squashy but satisfying. Inlays may look like a messy business but once they are all in place the item is French polished. The final surface is smooth when finished, and each inlaid element shines. plowden-smith.com/furniture-re... #FurnitureRestoration #Inlay #Marquetry #HistoricFurniture #Antiques

We have three vacancies available. Find out more about each role on our website and join our team: - Administrator - Head of Client Services - Decorative Arts Conservator (Fixed Term) plowden-smith.com/about/careers/ #Hiring #HiringNow #ArtsJobs

The #SummerExhibition at @royalacademyarts is well underway. We had the honour of visiting a couple of days ahead of the VIP opening; Joe in our #mountmaking team measured up & created bespoke mounts for a range of objects on display, working alongside the RA's installation team.

That's a wrap on the Islamic Arts Biennale. Our conservators have completed their last condition reports in Jeddah for all objects ahead of their journeys back to their respective collections. plowden-smith.com/conservation... #HeritageConservation #Conservator #IslamicArtsBiennale

Re-Discovered: The Larder Invaded by Sir Edwin Landseer Despite being often reproduced and discussed, the picture vanished in the 20th century. Its last known sale was in 1923, the painting is expected to fetch up to £60,000 at Sotheby's on July 3 www.thetimes.com/culture/art/... #painting