Nothing remains of Alexander Pope’s 18th-century villa except its grotto, which has experienced three centuries of quiet decay alongside the River Thames in Twickenham, England.
restoration
A Victorian Theater Frozen in Time Crowdfunds Its Reopening
A 19th-century theater that’s been disused for over 80 years is preparing to reopen in London.
Anonymous Donors Help Restore a Renaissance Nymphaeum in Rome
The centerpiece of a Renaissance villa in Rome, once used as a papal country retreat, has been restored to its former glory, with financial backing from an unexpected source: a group of anonymous Japanese donors.
Taxidermists Restore Napoléon’s Beloved White Horse
Napoléon Bonaparte reportedly rode over 130 horses during his 14-year reign, but only one ended up as taxidermy: the Arabian stallion named le Vizir.
Poll: What Does This Aggressively Restored 9th-Century Moorish Castle Look Like?
An architect’s restoration of a 9th-century Moorish castle in southern Spain has drawn outcry from locals and historians, with many drawing comparisons between the registered national monument’s new look and the infamous case of Beast Jesus.
British Museum Will Train Iraqis in Rescue Archaeology
There’s nothing like watching ISIS blow up the ancient city of Nineveh to make archaeologists, conservationists, and historians feel helpless.
Gargoyles of Charlie Hebdo Cartoonists Appear on 12th-Century French Tower
A pair of gargoyles commemorating slain Charlie Hebdo cartoonists Jean “Cabu” Cabut and Georges Wolinski were unveiled Monday on the renovated exterior of the Tour de la Lanterne, a tower in La Rochelle whose oldest sections date back to the late 12th century.
A Petition to Stop “Irresponsible” Restoration of Chartres Cathedral
A new petition against the cathedral’s restoration claims work done over the past six years has irreversibly damaged the 800-year-old building and erased centuries of the history that makes it so special.
A Midcentury Manhattan Mosaic Returns to Public View
A midcentury mosaic forgotten for years beneath metal paneling on a Midtown Manhattan office building is now restored and on permanent public view.
Italy Earmarks €80M for 12 Cultural Projects, Including Rebuilding Colosseum Floor
On Tuesday Dario Franceschini, Italy’s Minister of Heritage, Culture, and Tourism, announced that the superior council for cultural assets and landscape has committed €80 million (~$87 million) to 12 major cultural projects.
An Exhibition of Fractured and Mended Art
The conservation of artifacts already in museum care is highlighted more often than the repairs creators make to their own objects.
An Altarpiece in Guatemala Gets a New Life
ANTIGUA, Guatemala — The Cathedral of San Francisco in the colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala, was first built by the Spanish in the 16th century, but it’s as alive today as a center of worship as it ever was.