The Latest Breaking News from Thomas Gainsborough

Lubaina Himid reincarnates a pioneering show, the South African artist re-energises sculpture and Vincent goes head to head with Anselm Kiefer

Sixties art stars reconsidered, 70 years of working-class British life on camera and a multisensory meditation on Indonesian art – all in your weekly dispatch

Peep Show actor Paterson Joseph said Charles Ignatius Sancho’s story is a ‘seminal’ part of British history.

Sir Joshua Reynolds “dominated the artistic life of England in his age”, said Melanie McDonagh in the Evening Standard. As the co-founder and first president of the Royal Academy, Reynolds (1723-1792) held immense power over the country’s art establishment, and was generally “revered” by his fellow painters. Constable, for one,…

One of his paintings recently sold for £50m – but William Blake was right when he said Reynolds ‘depressed art’, as this show demonstrates all too well

Experts delighted portrait refound but say this is ‘cautionary tale’, stressing importance of rigorous checks to avoid misattribution

As a vast wedding cake sculpture is unveiled on the lawn at his stately home Waddesdon Manor, Lord Rothschild, scion of the banking dynasty, talks art, gangsters, champagne magnums and giant teapots with Geordie Greig

Moving retelling of Sancho’s life by actor Paterson Joseph awarded prestigious Christopher Bland prize

We British “love our dogs”, said Rachel Campbell-Johnston in The Times. And since at least the 17th century, British artists have shown equal enthusiasm for depicting man’s best friend. Thomas Gainsborough painted his beloved mutts and put their portrait in “pride of place” above the mantelpiece in his London house…