All About History

In the Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1788, the founders of this new nation made clear in the first line that their aim was to “form a more perfect Union”. There seems to be an acceptance in this phrase that the United States at its f

In 1979, nun Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for her work for bringing help to suffering humanity”. Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, she became a nun at 18 and spent much of her life in India caring for the poor and sick, as well as provi

14 INSIDE THE DALI THEATRE-MUSEUM 16 ANATOMY OF DAMIEN HIRST’S ART 18 INFLUENTIAL MODERN ARTISTS 20 BRINGING MODERN ART TO THE PEOPLE■

A group of artists who reject the artistic establishment move towards a style focussed on personal expression as opposed to realism. The Impressionist movement is criticised for the approach, which some see as appearing unfinished and lacking detail.

The Dalí Theatre-Museum in the city of Figueres in Catalonia has been described as “the largest surrealistic object in the world”. It was built by the Figures-born artist Salvador Dalí who, when asked to donate a piece of artwork to a local exhibitio

In the late 1990s, when British artist Tracey Emin broke up with her then-partner, the experience had a profound impact on her. At one point during the split she spent four alcohol- and nicotine-fuelled days in her bed. When she finally left the stai

Sculptor and artist Louise Bourgeois created many outstanding artworks, and some of her most famous pieces include large-scale installations. The most ambitious of these was constructed by Bourgeois for the entrance hall of the Tate Modern and was kn

Can you tell us a little bit about the history of Modern Art Oxford? The Museum of Modern Art Oxford, founded in 1965, was initiated by local architect Trevor Green and a group of contemporary art enthusiasts. Green, who also served as the museum’s f

Businessman Charles Saatchi is a world-renowned collector of art and his support has been instrumental in helping a number of young artists. In particular, his championing of the work of the Young British Artists, among them Damien Hirst and Tracey E

On 17 September 1787 in Philadelphia, delegates from 12 American states concluded a convention to write a Constitution for their embattled country. The oldest delegate, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, had a colleague read a wrap-up speech. Frankli

While we may not have all the answers, it seems logical to believe that people of all sorts of sexualities and gender identities have existed in every era of history. From the discovery of two ancient Egyptian men buried together in the style of a ma

If you’re anything like us, you enjoy learning about history in a number of different ways. We have history books, of course, but also documentaries and miniseries. And we have films and plays that dramatise history for us and bring it to life. One m

This author, essayist, playwright, poet, activist and wit used his work to challenge prejudice As a queer Black man born in America during the 1920s, James Baldwin experienced much hatred and discrimination. A novelist, essayist, playwright and poet,

In 2007, the central bank of South Korea decided to decorate the 50,000-won note with the face of a 16th century artist named Shin Saimdang. The choice was a significant one, as it marked the first time a woman’s face had graced a banknote in the cou

Renowned historian and broadcaster Dan Jones has become one of history’s most recognisable faces. Having written and presented documentaries on a variety of topics from the Middle Ages, his newest book sees him delve into the life of one of England’s

The campaign of 1806 began with the French victories of Jena and Auerstedt against the Prussians. Napoleon Bonaparte, having captured most major cities of Germany, marched east to crush remaining enemy forces. In December of the same year the Russian

By the end of 1942, Britain was reeling from a series of devastating defeats at the hands of a rampant Japanese offensive, most significantly losing the fortress city of Singapore and retreating from Burma. However, in 1943 Brigadier Orde Wingate lau

When we think of Ancient Rome, it would be hard not to immediately picture monuments like the Colosseum or the Forum in our mind’s eye, the remains of which still entice many visitors to the city today. But what do we really know about these historic

A fascinating, fiercely feminist biopic about WWII photographer Lee Miller Certificate: 15 Director: Ellen Kuras Cast: Kate Winslet, Andy Samberg, Marion Cotillard Released: Out now There is a certain tendency in biopics to cast the lead to perfectio

Director: Guy Ritchie Starring: Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Eiza González Country: UK Year: 2024 The Lock Stock and Sherlock director brings his brand of action to WWII VERDICT: A great deal more explosions, death and quipping than the real events.

Thomas Jefferson was not only a Founding Father and the third president of the United States, he was also something of a food connoisseur. During his time in Paris, from around 1784-89, he became incredibly fond of French cuisine. When he returned to