The time comes in every columnist’s life when he is forced to offer a glossary, and for me that time is now.

A powerful new book on the life of Derek Mahon sent Thomas McCarthy back to Mahon’s four key works, The Yaddo Letter, The Hudson Letter, The Yellow Book and Harbour Lights.

Francis Bacon made art market history in New York this week when his Three Studies of Lucian Freud sold for $142,405,000 at Christie's in New York to become the most valuable painting ever sold at auction.

IT’S the fields of waving wildflowers that are puzzling.