This is Beirut

Rubens or Replica? Controversy Over 'Samson and Delilah' Rekindled

This is Beirut, 08/03 13:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gaudy colors, messy brushwork, even a set of missing toes—the debate about the authenticity of Rubens’s Samson and Delilah will be reignited next week with the release of a book alleging that the painting hanging in London’s National Gallery is actually a copy. The work by the 17th-century Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens was purchased by ...

In Cairo, a Pharaonic Museum Is Preparing for a Grand Inauguration

Maria Chami, 07/03 14:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Cairo Museum

The Grand Egyptian Museum, located near the pyramids of Giza, is finally opening its doors after more than 20 years of construction. This museum, the largest in the world dedicated to a single civilization, will showcase 100,000 ancient artifacts, including the treasures of Tutankhamun. Delayed multiple times due to political and economic crises ...

Historic Tehran Brewery Revives as Contemporary Art Hub

This is Beirut, 07/03 12:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran Teheran Art Contemporary Art Culture Museum

Hidden behind imposing brick walls in the heart of Tehran, a renovated industrial cellar where decades ago Iranian beer was made has been transformed into a hub for contemporary art. The ambitious restoration of the derelict Argo factory has made it "one of the most beautiful buildings in Tehran," said architect Nazanin Amirian, visiting the ...

From Father to Son, from Beirut to the Louvre, the Epic of the Abou Adal Icons

Bélinda Ibrahim, 28/02 17:00 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Louvre Museum Collection Icons Christianism Lebanon

The extraordinary journey of the Abou Adal collection began in the early 1950s, in a Lebanon then regarded as the “Switzerland of the Middle East.” Georges Abou Adal, driven by a curiosity for Eastern sacred art, acquired his first icons in 1952. What started as a personal interest quickly turned into a passionate quest to preserve and ...

HaHaHouse Museum in Croatia Turns Laughter Into a Remedy

This is Beirut, 11/02 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Museum Art Culture

A new museum of laughter is offering to put people through the spinner to wash away the negativity of modern life. Visitors to the HaHaHouse in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, are blasted with a puff of white smoke once they step inside to blow away their worries before climbing into a "giant washing machine." The "centrifuge of life" then whips ...

From Paris to New York: Museums Embrace Change

This is Beirut, 06/02 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

New York Paris Museum Art Culture

Inspired by the Louvre's upcoming renovation project, aimed at easing the crowding in front of the Mona Lisa, several leading museums are redesigning their spaces and collections to address the challenges of overtourism and climate change. “In light of the surging tourism, security concerns, the climate emergency, and the digital revolution, ...

The Mona Lisa: A Dedicated Ticket to Admire at the Louvre

This is Beirut, 03/02 18:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Museum Culture Louvre Paris Art

The Louvre's President, Laurence Des Cars, has proposed introducing a dedicated ticket for viewing the Mona Lisa, separate from the museum's general admission. She made the announcement on Sunday during an interview on France Inter radio. "The idea is to have a Louvre ticket that covers access to the permanent collections and exhibitions (…) ...

Rabih Kayrouz’s Genius Becomes Rooted in History at the Louvre

Marie-Christine Tayah, 27/01 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Paris Louvre Museum Art Lebanon Fashion

Rabih Kayrouz, a prominent figure in Lebanese fashion, achieves a remarkable milestone by securing a place at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The exhibition Louvre Couture: Objects of Art, Objects of Fashion, that opened its doors on January 24, 2025, will showcase the rich history of craftsmanship and artistic excellence through the ages. A Unique ...

Partial Closure of British Museum Following Cybersecurity Breach

This is Beirut, 27/01 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom Museum Culture Art

The British Museum, one of the world's most renowned cultural institutions, announced on Saturday the partial closure of several galleries after a cybersecurity breach caused by a former contractor. The incident led to the "shutdown" of its IT systems, impacting museum operations. "We are working tirelessly to ensure the museum returns to full ...

Camille Claudel and Rodin: Artistic Genius in 'The Mature Age'

Marie-Christine Tayah, 2024-12-28 18:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Culture Art France Sculpture Artist Museum

A collaborator and muse of sculptor Auguste Rodin, as well as the sister of poet, writer and diplomat Paul Claudel, Camille Claudel made her mark on the Art Nouveau movement with a style that blended realism and impressionism. Her life was later brought to light in the book A Woman, Camille Claudel by Anne Delbée and the film Camille Claudel, ...

Sursock Museum Reopens Its Doors, Lamia Abillama Unveils History

Bélinda Ibrahim, 2024-12-19 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Museum Lebanon Culture Exhibition Book

After two months of closure during the recent war in Lebanon, the Sursock Museum is reopening its doors to the public this Friday, December 20. A festive day packed with events awaits visitors to celebrate the long-anticipated return of this iconic cultural institution. “Having been greatly weakened by the August 4, 2020 explosion at the Beirut ...

British Museum Receives Record £1bn Chinese Ceramics Donation

This is Beirut, 2024-11-15 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Kingdom Museum China British Art

The British Museum has received a historic £1 billion ($1.27 billion) donation of Chinese ceramics, the largest for any UK institution. This 1,700-piece private collection was gifted by The Trustees of The Sir Percival David Foundation, with the announcement made late Wednesday. Sir Percival David, a British businessman and passionate Sinophile ...

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