Van Gogh a legend known to embrace modern paintings through expression and sentiment has inspired generations. An entrepreneur in Bosnia turned his dream into reality by recreating Vincent Van Gogh's starry night as a stunning natural park. Watch in for more details!

Van Gogh's starry night inspired park in Bosnia

Two climate activists threw soup at Monet's "Springtime" painting in the Beaux Arts Museum of Lyon. They claim the move is to highlight climate emergency. The activists belong to an environmental group that had already claimed responsibility for a similar action last month against the Mona Lisa painting in Paris.

Climate activists hurl soup at Monet's 'Springtime' painting in Lyon

Are paintings generated by artificial intelligence truly art? Can they be called the work of an artist and in doing so who is that artist? Well, it is definitely debatable but to understand it better let us take you to an exhibition where AI is that artist now. Kuwait's NOUA Arts and Culture Center is showcasing artworks created by AI. Each image has been generated by apps, digital painting machines and algorithms.

Kuwait: AI-generated paintings on display at exhibition

A new study published has made scientists rethink their previous notions regarding Egyptian artists and their paintings. Using modern, state-of-the-art portable imaging&nbsp;and chemical analysis techniques, the team took a fresh look at the paintings in the Valley of the Kings — a royal burial ground for pharaohs and other ancient Egyptian elites.

During the probe, the scientists discovered subtle&nbsp;modifications, suggesting efforts to touch up the original work. Previously,&nbsp;Egyptologists believed that most artwork found in these tombs followed set conventional rules, strictly adhering to them at all times.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to scientists, during the&nbsp;Pharaonic civilisation, the work on wall paintings usually started with&nbsp;a preliminary sketch drawn in red ochre on the plastered wall.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trending-on-wion-egypt-discovers-hidden-corridor-in-great-pyramid-of-giza-568256">WATCH |&nbsp;Trending on WION: Egypt discovers hidden corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza</a>

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"This was followed by the application of white or coloured backgrounds, at times leaving a reserve for pictorial details. Afterwards, the colour came, commonly with pigment mixtures and layered applications. As the last step, the final outline and details were drawn, mainly with red ochre. In the&nbsp;final and vital stage, paint spilling over the outline was overpainted with opaque white," the researchers noted.&nbsp;

<h2>The discovery&nbsp;</h2>

However, upon using a small robot equipped with X-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared vision which can scrutinise any work akin to a medical scanner, researchers observed the oddity. They found that alterations had been made to the pictures.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-reconstruct-ancient-egyptian-king-tutankhamuns-face-599335">Also read |&nbsp;Scientists reconstruct ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun's face</a>

The team scanned the Ramesses II painting in the tomb of the priest Nakhtamon, painted in approximately 1,200 years BCE,&nbsp;and another artwork&nbsp;from the necropolis, revealing details that were not visible to the naked eye.

"The use of XRF mapping has, for instance, been applied to a known case of correction by surface repaint, something that is supposedly rare in the ancient Egyptian formal artistic process, while another fully unexpected one was discovered during the analytic exploration of a royal representation," the team said.&nbsp;

"We didn't expect to see such modifications of a supposedly very formal representation of a pharaoh," added Philippe Walter, the co-author of the study.&nbsp;

The precise timeline and reasons for these alterations is yet not known but if the practice of modifications is truly established, it could bring pharaonic art closer to our “modern aesthetic standard", the experts argued.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"At this stage, though the progress in this on-site material assessment of ancient works of art definitely means astonishing progress, one humbly has to face the fact that these ancient treasures shall still retain part of their defining mysteries."

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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A new study published has made scientists rethink their previous notions regarding Egyptian artists and their paintings. Using modern, state-of-the-art portable imaging and chemical analysis techniques, the team took a fresh look at the paintings in the Valley of the Kings — a royal burial ground for pharaohs and other ancient Egyptian elites.

A new study published has made scientists rethink their previous notions regarding Egyptian artists and their paintings. Using modern, state-of-the-art portable imaging and chemical analysis techniques, the team took a fresh look at the paintings in the Valley of the Kings — a royal burial ground for pharaohs and other ancient Egyptian elites. During the probe, the scientists discovered subtle modifications, suggesting efforts to touch up the original work. Previously, Egyptologists believed that most artwork found in these tombs followed set conventional rules, strictly adhering to them at all times. According to scientists, during the Pharaonic civilisation, the work on wall paintings usually started with a preliminary sketch drawn in red ochre on the plastered wall. WATCH | Trending on WION: Egypt discovers hidden corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza × "This was followed by the application of white or coloured backgrounds, at times leaving a reserve for pictorial details. Afterwards, the colour came, commonly with pigment mixtures and layered applications. As the last step, the final outline and details were drawn, mainly with red ochre. In the final and vital stage, paint spilling over the outline was overpainted with opaque white," the researchers noted. The discovery However, upon using a small robot equipped with X-ray, ultraviolet, and infrared vision which can scrutinise any work akin to a medical scanner, researchers observed the oddity. They found that alterations had been made to the pictures. Also read | Scientists reconstruct ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun's face The team scanned the Ramesses II painting in the tomb of the priest Nakhtamon, painted in approximately 1,200 years BCE, and another artwork from the necropolis, revealing details that were not visible to the naked eye. "The use of XRF mapping has, for instance, been applied to a known case of correction by surface repaint, something that is supposedly rare in the ancient Egyptian formal artistic process, while another fully unexpected one was discovered during the analytic exploration of a royal representation," the team said. "We didn't expect to see such modifications of a supposedly very formal representation of a pharaoh," added Philippe Walter, the co-author of the study. The precise timeline and reasons for these alterations is yet not known but if the practice of modifications is truly established, it could bring pharaonic art closer to our “modern aesthetic standard", the experts argued. "At this stage, though the progress in this on-site material assessment of ancient works of art definitely means astonishing progress, one humbly has to face the fact that these ancient treasures shall still retain part of their defining mysteries." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hidden mysteries revealed in ancient Egyptian necropolis paintings. Details inside

British artist Damien Hirst has started burning his paintings in front of cameras. The burning is a part of his NFT project titled "The Currency." Molly Gambhir tells you more.

WION Fineprint | British artist burns paintings on camera

An alleged trickster was arrested in Brazil after a painting by one of Brazil’s most celebrated artists – the pioneering modernist Tarsila do Amaral – was found under his bed. The painting went missing after an art heist and according to the police records, it was replaced by a fake one. The art was valued at around £48m and it went missing from the house of the widow of an art collector.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-major-brands-who-accept-cryptocurrencies-as-mode-of-payment-505625" hreflang="en">In pics - Major brands who accept cryptocurrencies as mode of payment</a>

Along with the trickster, three other people were arrested including the art collector’s daughter who was accused of stealing 16 more paintings. While she maintained that she is innocent, the police estimated the total worth of the stolen paintings to be somewhere around £114m.

According to a video posted online, the paintings were found by the senior services division at a beachside apartment in Ipanema. Among the ones found, the most valuable one was Sol Poente (Setting Sun) which is an old painting which was commissioned somewhere around 1929.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-face-of-a-king-found-on-a-wall-in-an-ancient-pyramid-in-china-505693" hreflang="en">In pics - Face of a king found on a wall in an ancient pyramid in China</a>

“Well, well, well – look what we have here!,” one female officer says in the video according to The Guardian. The other paintings found in the building were - Mascarada by Di Cavalcanti and two other Amaral paintings: Pont-Neuf and O Sono. All of them were valued at above $10 million.

The police said that the theft started sometime around January 2020 when the art collector’s daughter hired a number of people to cheat her mother and steal the air pieces. They were looking to sell the pieces to other art collectors over time.

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An alleged trickster was arrested in Brazil after a painting by one of Brazil’s most celebrated artists – the pioneering modernist Tarsila do Amaral – was found under his bed.

An alleged trickster was arrested in Brazil after a painting by one of Brazil’s most celebrated artists – the pioneering modernist Tarsila do Amaral – was found under his bed. The painting went missing after an art heist and according to the police records, it was replaced by a fake one. The art was valued at around £48m and it went missing from the house of the widow of an art collector. Also read | In pics - Major brands who accept cryptocurrencies as mode of payment Along with the trickster, three other people were arrested including the art collector’s daughter who was accused of stealing 16 more paintings. While she maintained that she is innocent, the police estimated the total worth of the stolen paintings to be somewhere around £114m. According to a video posted online, the paintings were found by the senior services division at a beachside apartment in Ipanema. Among the ones found, the most valuable one was Sol Poente (Setting Sun) which is an old painting which was commissioned somewhere around 1929. Also read | In pics - Face of a king found on a wall in an ancient pyramid in China “Well, well, well – look what we have here!,” one female officer says in the video according to The Guardian. The other paintings found in the building were - Mascarada by Di Cavalcanti and two other Amaral paintings: Pont-Neuf and O Sono. All of them were valued at above $10 million. The police said that the theft started sometime around January 2020 when the art collector’s daughter hired a number of people to cheat her mother and steal the air pieces. They were looking to sell the pieces to other art collectors over time. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Brazil police find paintings worth £50 million under bed of trickster

Grieving families gathered at the inauguration of a COVID-19 victims memorial in Brazil's Rio De Janeiro, paying homage to their lost loved ones and demanding more help from municipal authorities to provide support for families impacted by the pandemic. Close to 400 people died in the 'mare favela' complex, a grouping of 16 favelas on the outskirts of Rio.

Covid victims memorial unveiled, tiles has paintings and name of victims on it

If anyone doesn't need reminding that banknotes are just worthless pieces of paper, it is Zimbabweans: over a decade ago, they watched as hyperinflation obliterated their currency and led to the printing of a 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollar note. Most bills ended up in the trash, but Zimbabwean visual artist Prudence Chimutuwah has found value in the unloved old bank notes -- by using them to make art.

Zimbabwe- based artist turns worthless old Mugabe-era banknotes into paintings

Netherland is a top tourist destination due to its art and culture. The government of the Netherlands is preparing to preserve its art and culture through a collective art centre and is planning to keep around 500,000 paintings under one Roof.

Netherland to preserve collective art memory through Dutch collection centre

In an art gallery filled with expressive paintings and vibrant colours lies a set of highly decorated coffins.

Art gallery doubles up as funeral home

Authorities in Greece have recovered a Picasso painting almost a decade after it was stolen in a heist at the National gallery.

The painting, "Head of a Woman", which was gifted by Pablo Picasso himself to Greece in 1949, was recovered in Keratea from a 49-year-old builder who confessed to stealing the artworks in 2021.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/keep-your-jaw-shut-new-zealand-researchers-new-weight-loss-device-labelled-as-torture-394732" hreflang="en">Keep your jaw shut: New Zealand researchers' new 'weight loss' device labelled as 'torture'</a>

This thief revealed that he had at first hid these paintings in a home but later decided to stash them in thick vegetation at a local gorge. He has now been arrested.

"Today is a special day, (a day of) great joy and emotion," Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told reporters. He also clarified that it would have been impossible to sell this painting as it had a personal note at the back that read, "For the Greek people, a tribute by Picasso". The thief, however, claimed he never intended to sell the paintings as he was an art lover.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bank-accidentally-deposits-50-billion-in-us-couples-account-394719" hreflang="en">Bank accidentally deposits $50 billion in US couple's account</a>

This painting was gifted to the Greek state as a symbol of respect for the country’s resistance to Nazi Germany during the period of 1941-44.

"This painting is of particular importance and sentimental value to the Greek people, as it was personally dedicated by the great painter to the Greek people for their fight against fascist and Nazi forces," Mendoni said.

In addition to Picasso’s gift, another painting titled 'Stammer Windmill' by the Dutch painter Piet Mondrian was also recovered. This painting was also stolen in the January 2012 heist.

Authorities in Greece have recovered a Picasso painting almost a decade after it was stolen in a heist at the National gallery. The painting, "Head of a Woman", which was gifted by Pablo Picasso himself to Greece in 1949, was recovered in Keratea from a 49-year-old builder who confessed to stealing the artworks in 2021.

Authorities in Greece have recovered a Picasso painting almost a decade after it was stolen in a heist at the National gallery. The painting, "Head of a Woman", which was gifted by Pablo Picasso himself to Greece in 1949, was recovered in Keratea from a 49-year-old builder who confessed to stealing the artworks in 2021. Also read | Keep your jaw shut: New Zealand researchers' new 'weight loss' device labelled as 'torture' This thief revealed that he had at first hid these paintings in a home but later decided to stash them in thick vegetation at a local gorge. He has now been arrested. "Today is a special day, (a day of) great joy and emotion," Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told reporters. He also clarified that it would have been impossible to sell this painting as it had a personal note at the back that read, "For the Greek people, a tribute by Picasso". The thief, however, claimed he never intended to sell the paintings as he was an art lover. Also read | Bank accidentally deposits $50 billion in US couple's account This painting was gifted to the Greek state as a symbol of respect for the country’s resistance to Nazi Germany during the period of 1941-44. "This painting is of particular importance and sentimental value to the Greek people, as it was personally dedicated by the great painter to the Greek people for their fight against fascist and Nazi forces," Mendoni said. In addition to Picasso’s gift, another painting titled 'Stammer Windmill' by the Dutch painter Piet Mondrian was also recovered. This painting was also stolen in the January 2012 heist.

Picasso's stolen painting recovered years after a heist

An Italy’s public broadcaster has lost several valuable pieces of art by prominent names and those were replaced by fakes.

Works of artists such as Claude Monet and Amedeo Modigliani disappeared from the collection. These missing pieces were identified after a survey was conducted after the authorities posted the fake Rosai piece.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cambodia-deploys-new-batch-of-rat-recruits-to-sniff-out-landmines-391250" hreflang="en">Cambodia deploys new batch of rat recruits to sniff out landmines</a>

Authorities identified a fake painting by artist Ottone Rosai after a painting fell and the frame broke. This revealed that the painting was a fake, and an investigation was launched into the matter.

Authorities feared the missing paintings might be a work of frustrated Rai employees. The disappearance of Rosai's painting was traced back to a retired employee who sold off the painting in the 70s and has admitted to the crime.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-boredom-can-lead-people-to-break-public-health-rules-391199" hreflang="en">Boredom can lead people to break public health rules</a>

These paintings could be easily stolen was that there was no alarm system for any of this artwork and no other security system was in place, making it easy for people with free access to walk out with the paintings in odd hours.

Investigators feel the collection was stolen most probably in a 1996 exhibition in Puglia, during which these paintings might have been replaced with a fake.

An Italy’s public broadcaster has lost several valuable pieces of art by prominent names and those were replaced by fakes. Works of artists such as Claude Monet and Amedeo Modigliani disappeared from the collection.

An Italy’s public broadcaster has lost several valuable pieces of art by prominent names and those were replaced by fakes. Works of artists such as Claude Monet and Amedeo Modigliani disappeared from the collection. These missing pieces were identified after a survey was conducted after the authorities posted the fake Rosai piece. Also read | Cambodia deploys new batch of rat recruits to sniff out landmines Authorities identified a fake painting by artist Ottone Rosai after a painting fell and the frame broke. This revealed that the painting was a fake, and an investigation was launched into the matter. Authorities feared the missing paintings might be a work of frustrated Rai employees. The disappearance of Rosai's painting was traced back to a retired employee who sold off the painting in the 70s and has admitted to the crime. Also read | Boredom can lead people to break public health rules These paintings could be easily stolen was that there was no alarm system for any of this artwork and no other security system was in place, making it easy for people with free access to walk out with the paintings in odd hours. Investigators feel the collection was stolen most probably in a 1996 exhibition in Puglia, during which these paintings might have been replaced with a fake.

Caught!: 120 paintings of Monet, Modiglani went missing in 1970s, replaced with fakes

Paintings by Pablo Picasso, Rene Magritte and Joan Miro as well as Banksy's tribute to Britain's National Health Service are among a selection of artworks going under the hammer this month at auction house Christie's 20th Century Art sale.

Picasso, Miro, Magritte as well as Banksy for sale at auction

A painting by Vincent Van Gogh is set to be shown to the public for the first after spending over a century in hiding. The painting of a Paris street was in the private collection of a French family for a long time.

Van Gogh painted the street scene in 1997, when he was in Paris with his brother Theo. It will be put on display in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Paris by Sotheby’s auction house before being auctioned off next month.

The artwork is valued at between 5-8 million euros (roughly starting at $6 million). "A street scene in Montmartre”, as the painting is called officially shows a man and woman strolling with a windmill in the background while they stroll.

The work is part of Van Gogh’s series about Montmarte - a hilly district of Paris, now dominated by the Sacre Coeur church. During Van Gogh’s visit, the church was still being constructed and there was nothing but fields, windmills, and houses at the edge of the city, known for its cheap rent.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/in-canada-art-lovers-head-to-drive-in-for-safe-van-gogh-show-310951" hreflang="en">In Canada, art lovers head to drive-in for safe Van Gogh show</a>

Even though the painting has been seen in catalogues earlier, it had never been put on public display until now.&nbsp; According to Sotheby, only a few paintings from this series now remain in private hands.

“The appearance on the market of a work of this calibre, and from such an iconic series, is undoubtedly a major event," the statement from Sotheby said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/letter-detailing-brothel-visits-of-vincent-van-gogh-and-paul-gauguin-fetches-236000-306467" hreflang="en">Letter detailing brothel visits of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin fetches $236,000</a>

Van Gogh spent two years in Paris, from 1886-1888, after which he left the city for he became tired of the pace of life in the city.

Then, he moved to southern France, and cut off a part of his year, reportedly due to mental health issues. Later, the artist shot himself and died near Paris on July 29, 1890.

A painting by Vincent Van Gogh is set to be shown to the public for the first after spending over a century in hiding. The painting of a Paris street was in the private collection of a French family for a long time.

A painting by Vincent Van Gogh is set to be shown to the public for the first after spending over a century in hiding. The painting of a Paris street was in the private collection of a French family for a long time. Van Gogh painted the street scene in 1997, when he was in Paris with his brother Theo. It will be put on display in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Paris by Sotheby’s auction house before being auctioned off next month. The artwork is valued at between 5-8 million euros (roughly starting at $6 million). "A street scene in Montmartre”, as the painting is called officially shows a man and woman strolling with a windmill in the background while they stroll. The work is part of Van Gogh’s series about Montmarte - a hilly district of Paris, now dominated by the Sacre Coeur church. During Van Gogh’s visit, the church was still being constructed and there was nothing but fields, windmills, and houses at the edge of the city, known for its cheap rent. Also read: In Canada, art lovers head to drive-in for safe Van Gogh show Even though the painting has been seen in catalogues earlier, it had never been put on public display until now. According to Sotheby, only a few paintings from this series now remain in private hands. “The appearance on the market of a work of this calibre, and from such an iconic series, is undoubtedly a major event," the statement from Sotheby said. Also read: Letter detailing brothel visits of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin fetches $236,000 Van Gogh spent two years in Paris, from 1886-1888, after which he left the city for he became tired of the pace of life in the city. Then, he moved to southern France, and cut off a part of his year, reportedly due to mental health issues. Later, the artist shot himself and died near Paris on July 29, 1890.

A painting by Van Gogh will be displayed in public for the first time ever!

The event at a gallery in Tver, northwest of Moscow, brings together 10 copies of famous artworks that have been given a 3D tactile cover.

Russia: 3D paintings help blind people experience famous artworks

Empty chairs and empty tables is a sorry sight in usually thriving downtown Schoeneberg district. But one Berlin shut down by a coronavirus lockdown since November has transformed itself into an atelier for painters who can be seen putting colour on canvas by curious pedestrians or art lovers via an online livestream.

Show me the painting: Berlin cafe opens doors to artists

The "Mona Lisa" returned to its original room on Monday (October 7) at the Louvre Museum after two months of renovations in the hall where other Renaissance paintings are displayed.

Mona Lisa takes back its corner of the Louvre after renovation

The remaining paintings inside the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-notre-dame-lessons-from-a-fire-damaged-new-york-cathedral-211719">Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris</a> are to be removed on Friday and stored, with fire service officials now satisfied the damaged structure is safe enough to go inside.

Firemen and engineering experts have been working on the fragile landmark since a devastating blaze on Monday night, erecting scaffolding and other wooden supports to stop any of the stonework collapsing.

"The paintings inside the cathedral have been saved from the flames and can now be taken down and transported to safe areas," France's Culture Minister Franck Riester told reporters at the scene on Friday.

"All of the paintings will be removed today," Riester added, saying that he was feeling "very positive" given how most of the priceless artworks, many of them dating from the 18th century, had been saved.

Four works are in an area that is still considered risky, however.

The artworks are expected to be transported to the Louvre museum, where experts are set to repair relatively minor damage caused by smoke or water before storing them until they can be returned.

Thanks to a human chain created by firefighters and church officials on Monday night, the vast majority of the most sacred artifacts and valuable items inside the cathedral were saved.

Even a copper statue of a rooster containing relics that sat atop the now-destroyed Notre-Dame spire was also found among the ashes, dented but intact.&nbsp;

President Emmanuel Macron welcomed a delegation of officials from the UN's cultural agency UNESCO on Friday to discuss offers of aid from other countries to help restore the beloved emblem of France.

He was accompanied by army general Jean-Louis Georgelin who has been named by Macron to oversee the process.&nbsp;

The remaining paintings inside the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris are to be removed on Friday and stored, with fire service officials now satisfied the damaged structure is safe enough to go inside.

The remaining paintings inside the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris are to be removed on Friday and stored, with fire service officials now satisfied the damaged structure is safe enough to go inside. Firemen and engineering experts have been working on the fragile landmark since a devastating blaze on Monday night, erecting scaffolding and other wooden supports to stop any of the stonework collapsing. "The paintings inside the cathedral have been saved from the flames and can now be taken down and transported to safe areas," France's Culture Minister Franck Riester told reporters at the scene on Friday. "All of the paintings will be removed today," Riester added, saying that he was feeling "very positive" given how most of the priceless artworks, many of them dating from the 18th century, had been saved. Four works are in an area that is still considered risky, however. The artworks are expected to be transported to the Louvre museum, where experts are set to repair relatively minor damage caused by smoke or water before storing them until they can be returned. Thanks to a human chain created by firefighters and church officials on Monday night, the vast majority of the most sacred artifacts and valuable items inside the cathedral were saved. Even a copper statue of a rooster containing relics that sat atop the now-destroyed Notre-Dame spire was also found among the ashes, dented but intact. President Emmanuel Macron welcomed a delegation of officials from the UN's cultural agency UNESCO on Friday to discuss offers of aid from other countries to help restore the beloved emblem of France. He was accompanied by army general Jean-Louis Georgelin who has been named by Macron to oversee the process.

All Notre-Dame paintings to be removed as officials head inside

Five paintings attributed to Adolf Hitler will be auctioned off Saturday in the German city of Nuremberg, sparking anger that the Nazi memorabilia market is alive and well.

Nuremberg's mayor Ulrich Maly has condemned the upcoming sale as being "in bad taste," speaking to Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

Among the items to go under the hammer are a mountain lake view with a starting price of 45,000 euros ($51,000) and a wicker armchair with a swastika symbol presumed to have belonged to the late Nazi dictator.

The Weidler auction house is holding the "special sale" in Nuremberg, the city in which Nazi war criminals were tried in 1945.

The auction made headlines days before its start after several artworks were withdrawn Thursday on suspicion they were fakes and prosecutors stepped in.

Sales of alleged artworks by Hitler — who for a time tried to make a living as an artist in his native Austria — regularly spark outrage that collectors are willing to pay high prices for art linked to the country's Nazi past.

"There's a long tradition of this trade in devotional objects linked to Nazism," Stephan Klingen of the Central Institute for Art History in Munich told AFP.

"Every time there's a media buzz about it... and the prices they're bringing in have been rising constantly. Personally, that's something that quite annoys me."

'Ambitious amateur'&nbsp;

In Germany, public displays of Nazi symbols are illegal but exceptions can be made, in educational or historic contexts for instance.

To comply with the law, the auction house pixellated the swastikas on the wicker chair and a blue-and-white Meissen porcelain vase in catalogue photos and has covered them up on-site.

But none of the paintings includes any of the totalitarian party's insignias.

According to Klingen, Hitler had the style of "a moderately ambitious amateur" but his creations did not stand out from "hundreds of thousands" of comparable works from the period — making their authenticity especially hard to verify.

A haul of 26 pieces originally featured in the catalogue have been removed from sale after suspicions were raised that they might be fakes.

The watercolours, drawings and paintings bearing "Hitler" signatures featured views of Vienna or Nuremberg, female nudes and still lifes, the auction house said. They were offered by 23 different owners.&nbsp;

Prosecutors on Wednesday collected 63 artworks from the Weidler premises bearing the signature "A.H." or "A.Hitler", including some not slated to go under the hammer Saturday.

The Nuremberg-Fuerth prosecutor's office said it had opened an investigation against persons unknown "on suspicion of falsifying documents and attempted fraud", chief prosecutor Antje Gabriels-Gorsolke told AFP.

"If they turn out to be fakes, we will then try to determine who knew what in the chain of ownership," she said.

Weidler said in a statement that the paintings' withdrawal from sale "does not automatically mean they are fakes".

Five paintings attributed to Adolf Hitler will be auctioned off Saturday in the German city of Nuremberg, sparking anger that the Nazi memorabilia market is alive and well.

Five paintings attributed to Adolf Hitler will be auctioned off Saturday in the German city of Nuremberg, sparking anger that the Nazi memorabilia market is alive and well. Nuremberg's mayor Ulrich Maly has condemned the upcoming sale as being "in bad taste," speaking to Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. Among the items to go under the hammer are a mountain lake view with a starting price of 45,000 euros ($51,000) and a wicker armchair with a swastika symbol presumed to have belonged to the late Nazi dictator. The Weidler auction house is holding the "special sale" in Nuremberg, the city in which Nazi war criminals were tried in 1945. The auction made headlines days before its start after several artworks were withdrawn Thursday on suspicion they were fakes and prosecutors stepped in. Sales of alleged artworks by Hitler — who for a time tried to make a living as an artist in his native Austria — regularly spark outrage that collectors are willing to pay high prices for art linked to the country's Nazi past. "There's a long tradition of this trade in devotional objects linked to Nazism," Stephan Klingen of the Central Institute for Art History in Munich told AFP. "Every time there's a media buzz about it... and the prices they're bringing in have been rising constantly. Personally, that's something that quite annoys me." 'Ambitious amateur' In Germany, public displays of Nazi symbols are illegal but exceptions can be made, in educational or historic contexts for instance. To comply with the law, the auction house pixellated the swastikas on the wicker chair and a blue-and-white Meissen porcelain vase in catalogue photos and has covered them up on-site. But none of the paintings includes any of the totalitarian party's insignias. According to Klingen, Hitler had the style of "a moderately ambitious amateur" but his creations did not stand out from "hundreds of thousands" of comparable works from the period — making their authenticity especially hard to verify. A haul of 26 pieces originally featured in the catalogue have been removed from sale after suspicions were raised that they might be fakes. The watercolours, drawings and paintings bearing "Hitler" signatures featured views of Vienna or Nuremberg, female nudes and still lifes, the auction house said. They were offered by 23 different owners. Prosecutors on Wednesday collected 63 artworks from the Weidler premises bearing the signature "A.H." or "A.Hitler", including some not slated to go under the hammer Saturday. The Nuremberg-Fuerth prosecutor's office said it had opened an investigation against persons unknown "on suspicion of falsifying documents and attempted fraud", chief prosecutor Antje Gabriels-Gorsolke told AFP. "If they turn out to be fakes, we will then try to determine who knew what in the chain of ownership," she said. Weidler said in a statement that the paintings' withdrawal from sale "does not automatically mean they are fakes".

Germany: Five 'Hitler' paintings to go under hammer in Nuremberg

Hitler's watercolours with 'no artistic value' up for auction, German Police suspect forgeries

Meet Akiane Kramarik.&nbsp;

Now 23, Ms. Kramarik was a child prodigy from Illinois, U.S. who had finished painting Jesus when she was all of 8. The portrait of Jesus famous as &quot;Prince of Peace&quot; went on to establish her as a wonder child. Mind you, she had no formal training. All she had was her &lsquo;visions&rsquo;.&nbsp;

Hers is a story that bewilders and fascinates many. Ms. Kramarik was 5 years old when on a rainy spring day, she had mysteriously disappeared. Her parents were frantic, of course,&nbsp;and pleaded to all to find their missing child. Police were called, her photograph distributed in the community, the search party was formed, all cars moving in and out of her hometown were checked. But they found nothing. You might wonder what is so mysterious about a 5-year-old who probably must have playfully wandered off into the woods chasing a rabbit. So, this is what is strange. Ms. Kramarik says during this entire period when people were trying to locate her, she was always around them, just invisible.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;I was able to see the exact number of search and rescue people, and all the vehicles and families looking for me from above, and that I was seeing everything in detail on many dimensions at the same time&rdquo;, Ms. Kramarik tells me in response to the interview questions that she so graciously agreed to answer.

Her visionary experiences began right after this incident of her mysterious disappearance. Though her early life was spent sans any religious influence, she suddenly started to talk about god.

&lsquo;Prince of Peace&rsquo;, the painting that propelled her into the limelight, was born of these very visions.

&ldquo;My visions were intense and vivid when I was a child, but I did not have either patience or ability to paint them. At eight there was a transformation in my perspective of life. My visions returned, and so did my passion for art. Jesus to me was a symbol of hope. The film &lsquo;Painting the Impossible&rsquo; describes the details of the story&rdquo;, she explains.

Did these visions scare her? After all, she was really little when she began experiencing them.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Most of them inspired me and grounded me, but there were a few that shocked me&rdquo;. She shared her visions with her mother who at first thought they were just dreams. Only later when Ms. Kramarik&rsquo;s vocabulary improved and she could explain her visions better, did her mother realise&nbsp;that her daughter&rsquo;s visions were beyond mere night dreams. &ldquo;Nobody else apart from my mother understood what was happening &ldquo;, she recalls.

Thus, began her journey and today she has 300 paintings to her credit. She admits her &ldquo;method of painting is quite complex&mdash;there are hundreds of layers that are created in order to evoke different emotions in my art.&rdquo;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/jesus-20180308083430.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
&#39;Jesus&#39; is one of her most favourite and emotional pieces. (Others)
</div>
&times;</div>

Some of her creations hold a special place in her heart. &quot; &#39;Sixteen lives in the wind&#39; and &#39;Jesus&#39; were the most emotional pieces.&quot; She painted &lsquo;Sixteen lives in the wind&rsquo; for almost a year in three continents and describes the experience as &ldquo;intense artistic journey&rdquo;. &#39;Sixteen Lives in the Wind&#39; went on to sell for $180,000 USD, her most expensive painting till date.&nbsp;

Her other favourites include &#39;Jesus&#39;, &#39;Lillies of the Valley&#39;, &#39;The Dreamer&#39;, &nbsp;&#39;Jesus&#39;, &#39;Metamorphosis&#39;, &#39;Immortal&#39;, &#39;Today&#39;.&nbsp;

She likes to paint when the world sleeps, between 3 am to 7 am. &ldquo;I feel the most inspired and focused that time&rdquo;, she notes. She has just signed and finished her latest painting &#39;The Dreamer&#39;. &#39;Coincidentally, this is about India&#39;, she tells me.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;Another of her great works, &#39;Enlightenment&#39; is about a Hindu monk who traveled&nbsp;the world to meet her.

Ms. Kramarik feels &ldquo;there is a deep connection in my life with India.&rdquo; &ldquo;I speak Lithuanian, the closest language to Sanskrit. There is a profound link between our cultures, and I believe it is no coincidence that God has created unique circumstances for me to paint about India&#39;s culture.&rdquo;&nbsp;

&ldquo;India has not only a market for art. India is art&rdquo;, she feels. Her great liking for India resonates in her words. &ldquo;Its history and its people, its dreams and its spirituality, its ambitions and its astounding innovations and breakthroughs in every aspect of life are one of a kind. There is no country like India, and it will never be&rdquo;, she goes on to say.

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/sydney%20harbor-20180308084311.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Akiane Kramarik enjoying her vacation in Sydney. (Others)
</div>
&times;</div>

What inspires this young mind, what motivates her and keeps her going, I am curious. &ldquo;My inspiration has been and still is life itself. Visible and invisible life. Busy and serene life. My guidance has been my God, and my family&rdquo;, she explains. She has lived in 15 different countries and has drawn from her experiences in creating her art. &ldquo;Every city and village, every hut and palace, every forest and sea, every peasant and government leader I met is today in my paintings. Literally, under layers of paint,&rdquo; she says.

Ms. Kramarik&rsquo;s faith and beliefs were moulded by direct visions and experiences of Jesus, heaven, and angels that began at a tender age four. At 23, she remains an ardent follower of those beliefs. She is young, talented, famous and yet simple and grounded. She says she is thankful to her parents who kept on reminding her that &ldquo;purity and humbleness were the most significant foundation&rdquo; for her growth as an artist. For all her success, she is painfully media shy. &ldquo;I did not like any attention from media. And our lifestyle in the family did not promote pretentiousness and vanity&rdquo;, she adds. The only reason she managed to be at ease at &lsquo;The Oprah Winfrey Show&rsquo; was that she did not know how empowering and famous Oprah really was.&nbsp;

It was this interview that declared her arrival to the world. &ldquo;The interview caused a domino effect, and hundreds of journalists from around the world wanted to know more about my story and my art since&rdquo;, she mentions. 
&nbsp; 
What does a woman with such intense thoughts do when she is not creating art? Ms. Kramarik helps her family out with farm work when she is not painting. She also cooks, rides her bicycle around or simply observes people during her free hours. If this does not reflect the simplicity of her life, I don&rsquo;t know what else does.

&ldquo;I practice being one with God. One with the Truth and one with peace and love. God is part of everything we do. It is inseparable from life. I am conscious of divine presence every moment. It is a gift that keeps on growing and multiplying&rdquo;, her words underlines her sentiment.

Through her art, she wants to bring hope and peace to humanity. She had once said, &ldquo;If I have been gifted by God, and I have been, it is for one reason only, to help others.&rdquo; She is involved with several charities and wishes to donate her all free time to humanitarian and educational causes. She is a believer, a woman who answered her calling and mastered the courage to respond to her visions even though she knew people might not always understand things she had to say.

She believes in the power of the womankind. &ldquo;They are the present and the future&rdquo;, she emphasises. Women will go on to build a new future, she believes. A future &ldquo;vastly different from today&rdquo;. She talks about how and why women should support and encourage each other.

&ldquo;By supporting arts and healthy families which helped civilisations hold together for thousands of years we will make a happier woman, a happier wife, a happier mother, and a happier citizen of the society. In turn, we will make more giving communities, and more peaceful countries&rdquo;, she mentions in her parting notes. 
&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Akiane Kramarik, now 23, was a child prodigy who had finished painting Jesus when she was all of 8 without formal training. All she had was her visions.

Meet Akiane Kramarik. Now 23, Ms. Kramarik was a child prodigy from Illinois, U.S. who had finished painting Jesus when she was all of 8. The portrait of Jesus famous as "Prince of Peace" went on to establish her as a wonder child. Mind you, she had no formal training. All she had was her ‘visions’. Hers is a story that bewilders and fascinates many. Ms. Kramarik was 5 years old when on a rainy spring day, she had mysteriously disappeared. Her parents were frantic, of course, and pleaded to all to find their missing child. Police were called, her photograph distributed in the community, the search party was formed, all cars moving in and out of her hometown were checked. But they found nothing. You might wonder what is so mysterious about a 5-year-old who probably must have playfully wandered off into the woods chasing a rabbit. So, this is what is strange. Ms. Kramarik says during this entire period when people were trying to locate her, she was always around them, just invisible. “I was able to see the exact number of search and rescue people, and all the vehicles and families looking for me from above, and that I was seeing everything in detail on many dimensions at the same time”, Ms. Kramarik tells me in response to the interview questions that she so graciously agreed to answer. Her visionary experiences began right after this incident of her mysterious disappearance. Though her early life was spent sans any religious influence, she suddenly started to talk about god. ‘Prince of Peace’, the painting that propelled her into the limelight, was born of these very visions. “My visions were intense and vivid when I was a child, but I did not have either patience or ability to paint them. At eight there was a transformation in my perspective of life. My visions returned, and so did my passion for art. Jesus to me was a symbol of hope. The film ‘Painting the Impossible’ describes the details of the story”, she explains. Did these visions scare her? After all, she was really little when she began experiencing them. “Most of them inspired me and grounded me, but there were a few that shocked me”. She shared her visions with her mother who at first thought they were just dreams. Only later when Ms. Kramarik’s vocabulary improved and she could explain her visions better, did her mother realise that her daughter’s visions were beyond mere night dreams. “Nobody else apart from my mother understood what was happening “, she recalls. Thus, began her journey and today she has 300 paintings to her credit. She admits her “method of painting is quite complex—there are hundreds of layers that are created in order to evoke different emotions in my art.” 'Jesus' is one of her most favourite and emotional pieces. (Others) × Some of her creations hold a special place in her heart. " 'Sixteen lives in the wind' and 'Jesus' were the most emotional pieces." She painted ‘Sixteen lives in the wind’ for almost a year in three continents and describes the experience as “intense artistic journey”. 'Sixteen Lives in the Wind' went on to sell for $180,000 USD, her most expensive painting till date. Her other favourites include 'Jesus', 'Lillies of the Valley', 'The Dreamer', 'Jesus', 'Metamorphosis', 'Immortal', 'Today'. She likes to paint when the world sleeps, between 3 am to 7 am. “I feel the most inspired and focused that time”, she notes. She has just signed and finished her latest painting 'The Dreamer'. 'Coincidentally, this is about India', she tells me. Another of her great works, 'Enlightenment' is about a Hindu monk who traveled the world to meet her. Ms. Kramarik feels “there is a deep connection in my life with India.” “I speak Lithuanian, the closest language to Sanskrit. There is a profound link between our cultures, and I believe it is no coincidence that God has created unique circumstances for me to paint about India's culture.” “India has not only a market for art. India is art”, she feels. Her great liking for India resonates in her words. “Its history and its people, its dreams and its spirituality, its ambitions and its astounding innovations and breakthroughs in every aspect of life are one of a kind. There is no country like India, and it will never be”, she goes on to say. Akiane Kramarik enjoying her vacation in Sydney. (Others) × What inspires this young mind, what motivates her and keeps her going, I am curious. “My inspiration has been and still is life itself. Visible and invisible life. Busy and serene life. My guidance has been my God, and my family”, she explains. She has lived in 15 different countries and has drawn from her experiences in creating her art. “Every city and village, every hut and palace, every forest and sea, every peasant and government leader I met is today in my paintings. Literally, under layers of paint,” she says. Ms. Kramarik’s faith and beliefs were moulded by direct visions and experiences of Jesus, heaven, and angels that began at a tender age four. At 23, she remains an ardent follower of those beliefs. She is young, talented, famous and yet simple and grounded. She says she is thankful to her parents who kept on reminding her that “purity and humbleness were the most significant foundation” for her growth as an artist. For all her success, she is painfully media shy. “I did not like any attention from media. And our lifestyle in the family did not promote pretentiousness and vanity”, she adds. The only reason she managed to be at ease at ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ was that she did not know how empowering and famous Oprah really was. It was this interview that declared her arrival to the world. “The interview caused a domino effect, and hundreds of journalists from around the world wanted to know more about my story and my art since”, she mentions. What does a woman with such intense thoughts do when she is not creating art? Ms. Kramarik helps her family out with farm work when she is not painting. She also cooks, rides her bicycle around or simply observes people during her free hours. If this does not reflect the simplicity of her life, I don’t know what else does. “I practice being one with God. One with the Truth and one with peace and love. God is part of everything we do. It is inseparable from life. I am conscious of divine presence every moment. It is a gift that keeps on growing and multiplying”, her words underlines her sentiment. Through her art, she wants to bring hope and peace to humanity. She had once said, “If I have been gifted by God, and I have been, it is for one reason only, to help others.” She is involved with several charities and wishes to donate her all free time to humanitarian and educational causes. She is a believer, a woman who answered her calling and mastered the courage to respond to her visions even though she knew people might not always understand things she had to say. She believes in the power of the womankind. “They are the present and the future”, she emphasises. Women will go on to build a new future, she believes. A future “vastly different from today”. She talks about how and why women should support and encourage each other. “By supporting arts and healthy families which helped civilisations hold together for thousands of years we will make a happier woman, a happier wife, a happier mother, and a happier citizen of the society. In turn, we will make more giving communities, and more peaceful countries”, she mentions in her parting notes. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Akiane Kramarik, the woman artist whom God taught to paint

Paintings and photographs capturing legendary British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott`s tragic race to the South Pole have been reunited for the first time in more than a century at a London gallery. 
 
Photographer Herbert Ponting and watercolourist Edward Wilson dreamed of holding a joint exhibition to show their images of the beautiful but brutal Antarctic landscape, but Wilson`s death on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition made it impossible. 
 
&quot;Visions of the Great White South&quot;, which opened at London`s Bonhams gallery this week, finally realises the pair`s vision, and also showcases recently unearthed photographs taken by Scott himself.&nbsp; 
 
Scott remains an iconic figure in Britain and his failed mission to be the first to reach the South Pole, resulting in the death of himself and four colleagues in 1912, &nbsp;holds a unique place in national folklore. 
 
&quot;He`s one of those great British heroes,&quot; exhibition curator Charlotte Connelly told AFP on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;He was held up at the time as a hero for all the people going off to the First World War: he made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. 
&quot;But also Antarctica is an amazing, remote place that very few people get to go to and I think that still holds sway.&quot; 
 
Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours, whose impressionistic style reflected the climatic constraints. 
 
With paint freezing in the sub-zero temperatures, the naturalist and artist sketched the scene and made a note of the colours, before filling in with watercolours at base camp.Ponting`s photographs open a window into the everyday grind of survival in freezing conditions, and recreate in great detail the constantly changing icy landscapes, sculpted by ferocious weather.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Some of the images are really haunting,&quot; said Connelly. 
 
&quot;One of Scott`s images is a bit overexposed and it looks like the men and their ponies are walking off into nothing, which I think is very touching.&quot; 
 
One image shows footprints and sled trails disappearing into the horizon, another captures the men straining to pull their cargo through soft snow while the most spectacular illustrate the huge ice features, some perfectly geometric and others resembling frozen waves.&nbsp; 
 
Captain Lawrence Oates, who Scott famously recorded in his diary as saying &quot;I am just going outside and may be some time&quot; before walking to his death, is also shown boiling dog food on a blubber stove. 
 
Ponting`s negatives have recently been blown up using cutting-edge technology to make them of exhibition quality, while Scott`s negatives were only discovered in 2014. 
 
The Terra Nova expedition,named after the boat which carried the men -- was a scientific mission to Antarctica that took place between 1910 and 1913. 
 
Scott also wanted to become the first to reach the South Pole, but on arriving on January 17, 1912, found out Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him by 34 days. 
 
Scott`s entire party that reached the pole died of exhaustion and exposure on the return journey. Some of their bodies were found eight months later, along with journals and photographs. 
 
The free exhibition will run until August 19. 
 
(AFP)

Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours

Paintings and photographs capturing legendary British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott`s tragic race to the South Pole have been reunited for the first time in more than a century at a London gallery. Photographer Herbert Ponting and watercolourist Edward Wilson dreamed of holding a joint exhibition to show their images of the beautiful but brutal Antarctic landscape, but Wilson`s death on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition made it impossible. "Visions of the Great White South", which opened at London`s Bonhams gallery this week, finally realises the pair`s vision, and also showcases recently unearthed photographs taken by Scott himself. Scott remains an iconic figure in Britain and his failed mission to be the first to reach the South Pole, resulting in the death of himself and four colleagues in 1912, holds a unique place in national folklore. "He`s one of those great British heroes," exhibition curator Charlotte Connelly told AFP on Wednesday. "He was held up at the time as a hero for all the people going off to the First World War: he made the ultimate sacrifice for his nation. "But also Antarctica is an amazing, remote place that very few people get to go to and I think that still holds sway." Wilson captured the colours, otherworldly mirages and spirit-crushing scale of the ice sheet in a series of watercolours, whose impressionistic style reflected the climatic constraints. With paint freezing in the sub-zero temperatures, the naturalist and artist sketched the scene and made a note of the colours, before filling in with watercolours at base camp.Ponting`s photographs open a window into the everyday grind of survival in freezing conditions, and recreate in great detail the constantly changing icy landscapes, sculpted by ferocious weather. "Some of the images are really haunting," said Connelly. "One of Scott`s images is a bit overexposed and it looks like the men and their ponies are walking off into nothing, which I think is very touching." One image shows footprints and sled trails disappearing into the horizon, another captures the men straining to pull their cargo through soft snow while the most spectacular illustrate the huge ice features, some perfectly geometric and others resembling frozen waves. Captain Lawrence Oates, who Scott famously recorded in his diary as saying "I am just going outside and may be some time" before walking to his death, is also shown boiling dog food on a blubber stove. Ponting`s negatives have recently been blown up using cutting-edge technology to make them of exhibition quality, while Scott`s negatives were only discovered in 2014. The Terra Nova expedition,named after the boat which carried the men -- was a scientific mission to Antarctica that took place between 1910 and 1913. Scott also wanted to become the first to reach the South Pole, but on arriving on January 17, 1912, found out Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten him by 34 days. Scott`s entire party that reached the pole died of exhaustion and exposure on the return journey. Some of their bodies were found eight months later, along with journals and photographs. The free exhibition will run until August 19. (AFP)

Paintings and photos of tragic Scott pole mission reunited

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