Dr Bendor Grosvenor FRHistS
@bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social
Art historian. New book The Invention of British Art, out now.
Spineless, hopeless. (It was Mike Tapp, but can’t imagine the PM doing different).
January 5, 2026 at 8:50 AM
Spineless, hopeless. (It was Mike Tapp, but can’t imagine the PM doing different).
On the podcast this week, Waldemar and I look ahead at some of this year's top exhibitions. Including Rembrandt, Zurburan and Joan Eardley.
January 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
On the podcast this week, Waldemar and I look ahead at some of this year's top exhibitions. Including Rembrandt, Zurburan and Joan Eardley.
Today’s hill fort climb was Sundhope Kipp in the Cheviots. Iron Age. We saw some v rare wild, Cheviot goats, descendants of the herds there when the forts were built.
January 3, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Today’s hill fort climb was Sundhope Kipp in the Cheviots. Iron Age. We saw some v rare wild, Cheviot goats, descendants of the herds there when the forts were built.
Finally found my target audience.
What I want is a TV documentary channel entirely devoted to documentaries with no quick-cut montages of everything about to happen, which don't give a fuck about keeping my attention, presented by extremely knowledgeable people in a terrible mood who have no interest in trying to make me like them.
January 1, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Finally found my target audience.
For the British Art Journal @britishartjournal.bsky.social, I reviewed the National Gallery's, 'Joseph Wright of Derby: From the Shadows'.
It's a fine show, yet repeats a number of mistaken assumptions about Wright, and British 18thC art in general.
1/4
britishartjournal.co.uk/wright-of-de...
It's a fine show, yet repeats a number of mistaken assumptions about Wright, and British 18thC art in general.
1/4
britishartjournal.co.uk/wright-of-de...
Wright of Derby ‘From the Shadows’ – British Art Journal: Online
This review challenges some of the assumptions behind an important and absorbing exhibition
britishartjournal.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 12:12 PM
For the British Art Journal @britishartjournal.bsky.social, I reviewed the National Gallery's, 'Joseph Wright of Derby: From the Shadows'.
It's a fine show, yet repeats a number of mistaken assumptions about Wright, and British 18thC art in general.
1/4
britishartjournal.co.uk/wright-of-de...
It's a fine show, yet repeats a number of mistaken assumptions about Wright, and British 18thC art in general.
1/4
britishartjournal.co.uk/wright-of-de...
A date for your diary!* On Thursday 19th February I'm giving a talk at St Margaret's, Westminster Abbey. I'll focus on two of our most famous paintings - the Wilton Diptych and Holbein's Ambassadors - proposing new interpretations based on their settings within the Abbey.
1/2
1/2
December 28, 2025 at 8:28 PM
A date for your diary!* On Thursday 19th February I'm giving a talk at St Margaret's, Westminster Abbey. I'll focus on two of our most famous paintings - the Wilton Diptych and Holbein's Ambassadors - proposing new interpretations based on their settings within the Abbey.
1/2
1/2
There’s a Waldy & Bendy question time special just uploaded, if you’re needing arts content over the holidays.
December 27, 2025 at 7:38 PM
There’s a Waldy & Bendy question time special just uploaded, if you’re needing arts content over the holidays.
My cunning plan to slow cook the turkey overnight means we’re now ready to have Christmas breakfast.😬
December 25, 2025 at 9:17 AM
My cunning plan to slow cook the turkey overnight means we’re now ready to have Christmas breakfast.😬
‘So halllow’d, and so gracious is the time.’ Have a fine evening everyone, and a happy Christmas morning when it comes.
December 24, 2025 at 11:07 PM
‘So halllow’d, and so gracious is the time.’ Have a fine evening everyone, and a happy Christmas morning when it comes.
Our Christmas special is now up. Waldemar explains how art invented Santa Claus. And I look into Peter Bruegel the Elder's mysterious and brilliant Adoration of the Magi.
Waldy & Bendy's Adventures in Art, on all the usual platforms.
Waldy & Bendy's Adventures in Art, on all the usual platforms.
December 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Our Christmas special is now up. Waldemar explains how art invented Santa Claus. And I look into Peter Bruegel the Elder's mysterious and brilliant Adoration of the Magi.
Waldy & Bendy's Adventures in Art, on all the usual platforms.
Waldy & Bendy's Adventures in Art, on all the usual platforms.
Waldemar and I enjoyed dressing up for our Christmas podcast. As you can see, no effort was spared.
December 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Waldemar and I enjoyed dressing up for our Christmas podcast. As you can see, no effort was spared.
We’re doing a question time special for our Christmas podcast offering. Send in yours below!
December 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
We’re doing a question time special for our Christmas podcast offering. Send in yours below!
This week’s Adventures in Art podcast is up. Waldemar and I explore our favourite gothic cathedrals, ask why museum staff are on strike, and celebrate the Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil.
On all the usual platforms.
On all the usual platforms.
December 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
This week’s Adventures in Art podcast is up. Waldemar and I explore our favourite gothic cathedrals, ask why museum staff are on strike, and celebrate the Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil.
On all the usual platforms.
On all the usual platforms.
Sorry for the late upload, this week’s podcast is now live. We discuss Constable vs Turner, Caravaggio (and for some reason, rats in art 🐀).
December 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Sorry for the late upload, this week’s podcast is now live. We discuss Constable vs Turner, Caravaggio (and for some reason, rats in art 🐀).
I'm afraid the latest episode of the podcast will be out tomorrow, not today as usual. We're squeezing in an extra special discussion of Turner and Constable at the Tate.
December 4, 2025 at 4:44 PM
I'm afraid the latest episode of the podcast will be out tomorrow, not today as usual. We're squeezing in an extra special discussion of Turner and Constable at the Tate.
Reposted by Dr Bendor Grosvenor FRHistS
The getting rid of juries has, in my opinion, a darker rationale. It means protestors, who are more likely to get let off when juries are involved, will now all be found guilty. Part of a sinister cross party agenda of slowly criminalising protest.
December 4, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The getting rid of juries has, in my opinion, a darker rationale. It means protestors, who are more likely to get let off when juries are involved, will now all be found guilty. Part of a sinister cross party agenda of slowly criminalising protest.
At Sothebys, I chanced upon possibly the worst painted dog in British art history.
December 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM
At Sothebys, I chanced upon possibly the worst painted dog in British art history.
Had a fine time in the Turner & Constable exhibition at Tate. A superb display of brilliant pictures by two of our greatest artists.
Poor Constable; still so misunderstood in the labels and catalogue, but, in his own modest and subtle way, he more than holds his own.
Poor Constable; still so misunderstood in the labels and catalogue, but, in his own modest and subtle way, he more than holds his own.
December 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Had a fine time in the Turner & Constable exhibition at Tate. A superb display of brilliant pictures by two of our greatest artists.
Poor Constable; still so misunderstood in the labels and catalogue, but, in his own modest and subtle way, he more than holds his own.
Poor Constable; still so misunderstood in the labels and catalogue, but, in his own modest and subtle way, he more than holds his own.
The subjectiveness of art history: at the Tate show, Constable is condemned for presenting a misleadingly pleasant view of rural life. In the same room, one of his paintings shows two labourers literally shovelling shit.
December 2, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The subjectiveness of art history: at the Tate show, Constable is condemned for presenting a misleadingly pleasant view of rural life. In the same room, one of his paintings shows two labourers literally shovelling shit.
I’ve written for the FT on art and AI. Can we use it to find lost Rembrandts? www.ft.com/content/8f07...
Is AI killing the art connoisseur?
Such specialists are an endangered species but computer attribution is often wrong — and can be out by as much as a century
www.ft.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I’ve written for the FT on art and AI. Can we use it to find lost Rembrandts? www.ft.com/content/8f07...
New episode of the podcast just out. Waldemar solves the mystery of Bosch’s masterpiece, I wonder why a gold toilet is worth $12m, and we explore what made Hans Holbein so brilliant with Elizabeth Goldring.
November 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
New episode of the podcast just out. Waldemar solves the mystery of Bosch’s masterpiece, I wonder why a gold toilet is worth $12m, and we explore what made Hans Holbein so brilliant with Elizabeth Goldring.
Right.
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Right.
It's 2029, and a Reform government has sworn in its first batch of politically appointed judges. Suddenly, the Labour Party remembers why jury trials mattered.
November 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
It's 2029, and a Reform government has sworn in its first batch of politically appointed judges. Suddenly, the Labour Party remembers why jury trials mattered.
Can't believe they're going to end trial by jury. It's one of our most fundamental rights. Literally Magna Carta stuff.
November 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Can't believe they're going to end trial by jury. It's one of our most fundamental rights. Literally Magna Carta stuff.
When is a drawing of a foot worth $2m? When it’s a newly discovered Michelanglo. ‘Study for the right foot of The Libyan Sibyl on the Sistine Chapel ceiling’, c.1511-12, will be sold at Christie’s NY in January.
November 24, 2025 at 10:14 PM
When is a drawing of a foot worth $2m? When it’s a newly discovered Michelanglo. ‘Study for the right foot of The Libyan Sibyl on the Sistine Chapel ceiling’, c.1511-12, will be sold at Christie’s NY in January.