Madagascar is a country that continues to fascinate people because of its odd place in history, geography, and culture. The island nation lies to the East of the African continent and while it is undoubtedly African in many ways, there are many other cultural and geographical influences on this land. Migrants came here from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East – so to relocate, others to trade. This blend of peoples, languages, and traditions made Madagascar one of the most diverse, unique nations in the world.

When listing the names of some of the biggest masters of the 16th century, the name Caravaggio certainly comes to mind. This artist may not have had a long life, but it was certainly an eventful one in terms of this travels, rivalries and his impression on the art world. Many peers of his era – and many modern-day critics – revered him for his realism and subject matter. Now, the Musée Jacquemart-André is letting us see this up-close like never before.

Lantern shows are a great way to celebrate the winter in style. The gardens and outdoor spaces of a city can feel a little dark and abandoned in the heart of winter until event organisers transform them with great illuminations.

Egon Schiele was an artist ahead of his time. It is easy to look at the distorted images and nudes and assume that they come from a much later...

A current installation at the Louvre is particularly exciting because it merges the old and new in a curious way. The design of the sculpture in Japonisms 2018 Kohei Nawa, Throne is a nod to ancient materials and designs. There is a stunning amount of gold leaf shining out from the pyramid of the gallery. However, the structure beneath is actually 3D printed.

Basquiat’s tragic death at the age of 27 means that he was part of the New York art scene for only 8 years. However, he poured himself into his work and created thousands of painting and other pieces. The current exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton pays tribute to this talent with an impressive retrospective of his life. The show continues through the year until January 14th.

Sérusier’s "The Talisman": A Prophecy of Colour is an upcoming show at the Musee d’Orsay. It showcases the painting and its significance within French art. Art lovers get a chance to learn more about the painting, the artist and the finer details in the use of colour and form. This educational show begins on January 29th and continues until April 28th.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir is one of the leading French artists when it comes to portraits and female figures. He captured subjects and social scenes with great skill and sympathy. Among his subjects was his son, Jean Renoir.

The art collection of the Marquis Campana is one of the more high profile private collections of the 19th century. At the time, he aimed to bring together the best of Italian culture. However, a conviction for embezzlement in 1857 saw the collection seized and broken up. A significant amount fell into the ownership of Tsar Alexander II, the rest with Napoleon III.

The aim here is to take visitors on a journey through the different eras and approaches in Miro’s work. This should provide a greater understanding of the scope of his work and achievement, where many patrons may have only seen the odd abstract canvas here and there.

The 20th century was an important time in Japanese art due to the shifting attitudes to Japanese culture and history within Art. There was a greater desire to look to the present and the beauty of the image for a western market, rather than the significance of the past. Many even left Japan to study and develop in the US and Europe.

The London group of the mid-20th century is one of great influence in British and European art. There are some names here that jump out as modern masters and household names – such as Hockney, Bacon and Freud. One that is less well-known is Paula Rego.

The aim is to use these works to gain a little insight into the way that these creatures used to be portrayed, their importance in the culture of the time, and any similarities to modern perceptions. Some of these creatures are both familiar and strange at the same time.

This expo runs at the Parc des Expos de la Porte de Versailles for 5 days near the beginning of November – the 8th to the 12th – and promise to be another hit. Come down for a while, or maybe even each day, to see what is on offer.

The Musée d’Orsay and the Musée national Picasso-Paris have come together to create an exhibition called Picasso: Blue and Rose. The show covers a small period between 1900-1906, one forgotten by many critics and galleries.

The Eblouissante Venise exhibition at the Grand Palais – alternatively titled Dazzling Venice – highlights the diversity of work and genres to come from Venice in the 18th century. The exhibition brings together a series of painting, sculptures and other work for a more comprehensive look at this city at this time. It opens on September 26th and continues until the end of January.

The idea is to celebrate the long history of the Rinpa school in Japan via a series of around 60 pieces of work. This is an important part of Japanese art history as it signifies a shift in purpose and composition.

Here visitors can see the new views that awaited these masters in their temporary home, and the way that the artists captured them on canvas. There are more than one hundred pieces on show, so plenty to see. Head over before October 14th.