Ghosts of sculptures past

4th February 2026

John Wyver writes: An inconsequential observation, and as such one that hardly warrants its own post. But I was at Tate Britain this morning, among crowds attracted by the final days of Lee Miller (until 15 February) and more

Postcard from Paris

13th December 2025

John Wyver writes: I have been going to Paris to see paintings for more than fifty years, and Friday was my most recent such trip. I took a break from prepping for the publication of Magic Rays of Light more

Life during wartime

4th November 2025

John Wyver writes: One of the wall-size blow-ups in the NPG's current Cecil Beaton's Fashionable World exhibition is one a well-dressed young woman, seen from behind, looking into the wartime ruins of Middle Temple (above). Nearby is a silver more

OTD in early British television: 23 May 1939

23rd May 2025

John Wyver writes: Television's main offering on Tuesday 23 May 1939 was a 45-minute studio debate titled simply Modern Art. As the billing detailed, 'Sir William Rothenstein took the chair. Mr Wyndham Lewis and Mr Geoffrey Grigson championed 'unconventional' modern more

OTD in early British television: 24 April 1939

24th April 2025

John Wyver writes: Monday 24 April 1939 saw one of the BBC's pair of mobile control rooms parked outside Burlington House for an afternoon outside broadcast from Varnishing Day for the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition. Above is the image Radio more

OTD in early British television: 13 April 1937

13th April 2025

Back from holiday; normal service resumes with OTD post no 123... John Wyver writes: On the afternoon of Tuesday 13 April 1937, and then again that evening, a second series of producer Mary Adams' series The World of Women opened with more