Faith · Monarchies · Rome

Papal ferulas from Paul VI to Leo XIV and the new ferula with the motto In illo uno unum

Last week, at the closing of the Holy Door of Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the liturgy with a new papal ferula. The silver ferula with a crucifix was first used by Saint Paul VI in 1965, on the occasion of the closing of the Second

NB! · Art · Observations

I consider the theme of snow in the work of Yury Pimenov exhausted

Coming Up · Art · Society

South Africa's culture minister rejects national project for the 2026 Venice Biennale

This month, the countries taking part in the 2026 Venice Art Biennale must present their projects. Shortly before the final list of pavilions is published, South Africa has run into difficulties of a domestic (and possibly also foreign) nature over the approval of its national project. The selection committee, appointed

Art · New York · Nature

Dogs Running in the Snow, New York

A photograph by the Hungarian photographer André Kertész, 1971

Gilded statue of a winged warrior in armour raising a sword, standing on a dragon. Behind it lie a bay and sandy tidal flats in soft light.

NB!

Gilded statue of Archangel Michael atop the spire of Mont-Saint-Michel

Architecture · Faith · Books

The Book of Daniel on Michael’s rising, the resurrection of the dead and the wise

The Golden Figure of the Archangel Michael on the Spire of the Church of Saint Michael on Mont-Saint-Michel. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never

Faith · Observations · People

El Cid's chronicler notes that, standing on the ramparts of Valencia and gazing at the vast army of Moroccan invaders, he thanked God for the opportunities laid before him and for the honour he was about to win

Heavenly Father, merciful Creator, I thank Thee! … A wondrous gift has come from across the sea: I cannot win it otherwise than by fighting. The valiant hero of Spain offered up prayers of thanksgiving before a desperate battle, and not merely after the victory. Nearly a thousand years have passed,

Two children with a red sled play in deep snow on a snow-covered field, with houses and snowy trees in the distance.

Archive · Art · People

Luigi Ghirri, a pioneer of colour photography in Italy

Winter 1985. Luigi Ghirri, a pioneer of Italian colour photography

NB! · Art · Observations

Giambologna's “Allegory of the Apennines” is to be found in our own home:

Museums · Society · Paris

Louvre staff resume strike on 5 January, museum closed

Louvre staff continue their strike amid lack of progress in talks between the museum's management and the Ministry of Culture. The strikes, which began in mid-December, resumed on 5 January after a break for the holidays. The museum was closed today. The trade unions are demanding higher

Listings · Moscow · Coming Up · Art · Museums

Five Moscow exhibitions closing between 18 January and 15 February

In the regular "Where to Go" column: Moscow exhibitions you can visit this week. 📌 Closing soon: "Karl Bryullov. Rome – Moscow – Saint Petersburg" at the Tretyakov Gallery, until 18 January 📌 Closing soon: "From Dawn to Dusk: Byzantine Coins from the Collection of G.A. Shchetinin"

Archive · Geography · Nature

Eruptions of Mount Etna from 475 BC to the activity of early 2026

Not the gates of Hades, but a portal of lava on the stratovolcano Etna, Sicily. Photo by Franz Lazi, 1968 Among Etna's more recent notable eruptions, the one of 2 June 2025 was a palpable affair, as was the one before it, in the spring and summer of

Alexandr Radayev