From George Stubbs’s golden vision of the labourer’s place in society to Ford Madox Brown’s heroically monumental celebration of manual labour, artists gave individual interpretations of work, as Michael Hall reveals

Train Landscape , 1940, watercolour on paper, 17¼in ...

With his vivid Grand Prix studies, James Stevens has become a true master of portraits, even when the star subject is limited to a pair of eyes peering out from a full-face helmet. Visitors to his sta

Exhibition of the week Nan Goldin: The Ballad ...

Buying great horses isn’t all about six-figure sums and flashy auctions. Luz Wollocombe finds out from top riders about the special purchases that changed their lives

A pair of comfortable Gonse chairs brought last year’s sales to a splendid end, with Old Master drawings set to star at auctions and fairs early in 2026