In the Press · Art · Observations · Humour

Berlusconi's collection of thousands of cheap paintings has become a burden to his heirs

The Guardian carries an amusing little item on how Silvio Berlusconi's heirs were astonished to learn that a collection of some 25,000 paintings, on which he may have spent around 20 million euros, consists largely of worthless daubs. The former Prime Minister of Italy devoted several years

NB! · Art · Museums

Mesmerising Details and Carlo Crivelli's "Saint Michael", 1472

Moscow · Museums · Observations

Homemade car by Soviet engineer Oleg Kucherenko on show at the Museum of Moscow

This Car Looks as if It Is Plotting Something. A splendid home-built automobile with the touching name "Trud" ("Labour"), the work of the Soviet engineer Oleg Kucherenko, is on show at the exhibition "Garage Wanted" at the Museum of Moscow, organised jointly with

NB! · Coming Up · Art · Moscow

At the House on Khlebny (19 Khlebny Lane), the exhibition "Shadows Dance Underwater" by the artists Yakov Khomich, Soslan Sosiev and the InterLNKD collective has opened

At the House on Khlebny (19 Khlebny Lane), the exhibition "Shadows Dance Underwater" by the artists Yakov Khomich, Soslan Sosiev and the InterLNKD collective has opened. It runs until 20 December

A large multi-panel painting of a heap of assorted objects, including a motorcycle, globe, bust, clock, umbrellas and toys, on an exhibition hall wall.

NB! · Art · Observations · Society Pages

Exhibition of the art group “Rossiya” opens at the Nakovalnya gallery

An exhibition by the art group “Rossiya” has opened at the Nakovalnya Gallery. They are among my very favourite artists, Ivan and Yegor Dmitriev especially. The show is a small one, and thoroughly agreeable

Star and badge of an order shaped like a sunburst with a face at the centre, set with stones, in a red velvet case beneath a pink-and-green ribbon bow.

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Jewelled sunburst order with pink and green ribbon in a red case

Aristocracy · The East · Monarchies · Heritage

The Women's Order of the Sun of Shah Naser ed-Din and the History of Its Founding in 1873

The first award for women in the history of Persia, the Order of the Sun for ladies, نشان آفتاب, Nishan-i-Aftab, was established by the fourth Shah of Iran of the Qajar dynasty, Naser al-Din, in 1873. The badge and the star of the order are made in

NB! · Art · Monarchies · Observations · Paris · Humour

Perhaps not the most suitable portrait for comparing Louis XIV to Apollo

Black and white photograph of an elderly man in glasses and a tie in front of bookshelves and a framed drawing of a nude figure.

Books · Observations · People

Philosopher Nicolás Gómez Dávila of Colombia photographed by bookshelves

The bourgeoisie is any group of people dissatisfied with what they have and satisfied with what they are. The Colombian philosopher Nicolás Gómez Dávila

NB! · Books · Observations

Bio for My New Book

Film still: a young woman in a blue outfit with a green scarf and an older woman in a red and orange sari stand by yellow curtains; a framed portrait hangs on the wall.

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Two women in Indian dress by yellow curtains, a framed portrait on the wall

Art · Cinema · Pop Culture · Humour

Could Vincent van Gogh Have Dreamed of Such Fame?

A reproduction of Van Gogh's self-portrait in the setting of the 2003 Bollywood romantic comedy "I'm Going Mad with Love"

Alexandr Radayev