I have a pile of reading for the new term but the last of the summer reading was Elizabeth Goldring’s gorgeous Holbein: Renaissance Master. It seems likely that Holbein, like many other court painters, carried out intelligence missions for his powerful sponsors. #ArtofSpying
September 21, 2026 at 3:05 PM
I have a pile of reading for the new term but the last of the summer reading was Elizabeth Goldring’s gorgeous Holbein: Renaissance Master. It seems likely that Holbein, like many other court painters, carried out intelligence missions for his powerful sponsors. #ArtofSpying
Odette Churchill (Sansom/Hallowes) by the artist Elizabeth Smily (née Wolf) from the Imperial War Museum collection. Not sure the date on the top is correct as I believe Sansom didn’t marry Peter Churchill until 1947, but a lovely portrait which I don’t think I’ve seen before #ArtofSpying
September 14, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Odette Churchill (Sansom/Hallowes) by the artist Elizabeth Smily (née Wolf) from the Imperial War Museum collection. Not sure the date on the top is correct as I believe Sansom didn’t marry Peter Churchill until 1947, but a lovely portrait which I don’t think I’ve seen before #ArtofSpying
Looking through this summer’s gallery visits. Archdukes Albert & Isabella of the Habsburg Netherlands by Frans Porbus II from the Groeninge in Bruges. Albert & particularly Isabella were the principal beneficiaries of the intelligence activities of the painter Peter Paul Rubens #ArtofSpying
September 5, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Looking through this summer’s gallery visits. Archdukes Albert & Isabella of the Habsburg Netherlands by Frans Porbus II from the Groeninge in Bruges. Albert & particularly Isabella were the principal beneficiaries of the intelligence activities of the painter Peter Paul Rubens #ArtofSpying
Very much enjoyed @mlamster.bsky.social book on the secret diplomatic role of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, which guided my recent visit to Antwerp. Struck by his thought provoking conclusion. #ArtofSpying
August 25, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Very much enjoyed @mlamster.bsky.social book on the secret diplomatic role of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, which guided my recent visit to Antwerp. Struck by his thought provoking conclusion. #ArtofSpying
Another from Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA). Luc Tuymans enigmatic ‘Secrets’ (1990) #ArtofSpying
August 20, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Another from Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA). Luc Tuymans enigmatic ‘Secrets’ (1990) #ArtofSpying
One for the intelligence professional, ‘Minerva Overcoming Ignorance’ (1632-1633?) by Peter Paul Rubens, painter and spy. #ArtofSpying
August 18, 2026 at 8:04 AM
One for the intelligence professional, ‘Minerva Overcoming Ignorance’ (1632-1633?) by Peter Paul Rubens, painter and spy. #ArtofSpying
The sumptuous private garden behind Rubens’ house, carefully designed by the artist and described by @mlamster.bsky.social in Master of Shadows as “an excellent place for a private stroll, where delicate political affairs might be addressed away from prying eyes and ears.” #ArtofSpying
August 18, 2026 at 7:01 AM
The sumptuous private garden behind Rubens’ house, carefully designed by the artist and described by @mlamster.bsky.social in Master of Shadows as “an excellent place for a private stroll, where delicate political affairs might be addressed away from prying eyes and ears.” #ArtofSpying
In Antwerp, looking for Rubens, Flemish master and sometime diplomat and spy #ArtofSpying
August 18, 2026 at 6:54 AM
In Antwerp, looking for Rubens, Flemish master and sometime diplomat and spy #ArtofSpying
In National Portrait Gallery today seeking more intelligence related art. Hein Heckroth’s surrealist portrait of Basil Liddell Hart features an ear because the artist mistakenly believed L-H was a spy. Reminiscent of the ears stitched into Elizabeth I’s cloak in the rainbow portrait #ArtofSpying
July 14, 2026 at 8:15 PM
In National Portrait Gallery today seeking more intelligence related art. Hein Heckroth’s surrealist portrait of Basil Liddell Hart features an ear because the artist mistakenly believed L-H was a spy. Reminiscent of the ears stitched into Elizabeth I’s cloak in the rainbow portrait #ArtofSpying
A trio of Elizabethan spymasters, William Cecil, Robert Cecil and Francis Walsingham. Part of the excellent Elizabeth I Queen & Court exhibition Philip Mould Gallery. If you’re in London it’s free and runs until 10 July. Well worth a visit. Also includes some paintings of Elizabeth I. #ArtofSpying
July 4, 2026 at 12:36 PM
A trio of Elizabethan spymasters, William Cecil, Robert Cecil and Francis Walsingham. Part of the excellent Elizabeth I Queen & Court exhibition Philip Mould Gallery. If you’re in London it’s free and runs until 10 July. Well worth a visit. Also includes some paintings of Elizabeth I. #ArtofSpying
Also found some more artworks relating to spying - ‘The Postal Censorship, Strand House London’ (1919) by A.J.C. Bryce, and ‘Erecting the First Camouflage Tree’ (1916) by Solomon J. Solomon, along with sketches by the artist G.C. Leon Underwood part of Solomon’s team #ArtofSpying
June 12, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Also found some more artworks relating to spying - ‘The Postal Censorship, Strand House London’ (1919) by A.J.C. Bryce, and ‘Erecting the First Camouflage Tree’ (1916) by Solomon J. Solomon, along with sketches by the artist G.C. Leon Underwood part of Solomon’s team #ArtofSpying
‘Eastern Still Life' tapestry by the Scottish artist Elizabeth Blackadder, which hung in the office of Sir Alex Younger during his time as Chief of MI6. Younger told the @financialtimes.com that he would often look at it in meetings claiming 'you can always find new patterns' #ArtofSpying
June 4, 2026 at 11:29 AM
‘Eastern Still Life' tapestry by the Scottish artist Elizabeth Blackadder, which hung in the office of Sir Alex Younger during his time as Chief of MI6. Younger told the @financialtimes.com that he would often look at it in meetings claiming 'you can always find new patterns' #ArtofSpying
More on art and spying, popped into Burghley House today to look at the portraits of William Cecil (the first Lord Burghley), Elizabeth I’s spymaster. Portrait in full Privy Council regalia is by Marcus Gheeraerts who also painted Elizabeth I #ArtofSpying
May 19, 2026 at 6:43 PM
More on art and spying, popped into Burghley House today to look at the portraits of William Cecil (the first Lord Burghley), Elizabeth I’s spymaster. Portrait in full Privy Council regalia is by Marcus Gheeraerts who also painted Elizabeth I #ArtofSpying
Doing some work on the representation of spying in art. Really pleased to get hold of the catalogue from James Hart Dyke’s 2011 exhibition ‘A year with MI6’. I’ve seen some of these paintings in the media but my no means all and Hart Dyke’s comments are a treat. #ArtofSpying
May 18, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Doing some work on the representation of spying in art. Really pleased to get hold of the catalogue from James Hart Dyke’s 2011 exhibition ‘A year with MI6’. I’ve seen some of these paintings in the media but my no means all and Hart Dyke’s comments are a treat. #ArtofSpying
For the last two years I’ve been finding & sharing artworks relating to intelligence. Today I bring you “Budanov and the Magical Frog” (2024) by Ukrainian artist Yevgenia Gapchinska. It depicts Kyrylo Budanov then head of Ukrainian military intelligence #ArtofSpying #SlavaUkraini
February 24, 2026 at 8:53 AM
For the last two years I’ve been finding & sharing artworks relating to intelligence. Today I bring you “Budanov and the Magical Frog” (2024) by Ukrainian artist Yevgenia Gapchinska. It depicts Kyrylo Budanov then head of Ukrainian military intelligence #ArtofSpying #SlavaUkraini
Very much enjoyed Christian House’s piece in the FT this weekend about art and diplomacy #ArtofSpying - www.ft.com/content/ad73...
What art should I hang in my embassy? Top ambassadors reveal their soft power secrets
Diplomats have been tactfully hanging masterpieces for centuries — collectors should take note
www.ft.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Very much enjoyed Christian House’s piece in the FT this weekend about art and diplomacy #ArtofSpying - www.ft.com/content/ad73...
In my intelligence module I share an artwork relating to each week’s topic. This week it’s oversight, a relatively new process, but parliamentary committees have long been concerned with the state’s treatment of individuals. William Hogarth’s The Gaols Committee of the House of Commons. #ArtofSpying
December 10, 2025 at 5:04 PM
In my intelligence module I share an artwork relating to each week’s topic. This week it’s oversight, a relatively new process, but parliamentary committees have long been concerned with the state’s treatment of individuals. William Hogarth’s The Gaols Committee of the House of Commons. #ArtofSpying
In my intelligence module, Vigilant State, I share an artwork relating to each week’s topic. This week we’re discussing counterintelligence. I’ve selected ‘The Spy’ by Alphonse de Neuville (1880). Captured spies are a common theme in art on intelligence, I find this one quite moving #ArtofSpying
November 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
In my intelligence module, Vigilant State, I share an artwork relating to each week’s topic. This week we’re discussing counterintelligence. I’ve selected ‘The Spy’ by Alphonse de Neuville (1880). Captured spies are a common theme in art on intelligence, I find this one quite moving #ArtofSpying
I managed to spend a little bit of time in the library today 🧐 #ArtofSpying
November 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I managed to spend a little bit of time in the library today 🧐 #ArtofSpying
Each week I share artwork with students on my intelligence module. This week's topic is intelligence failure. I've chosen Preparations for D-Day (1944) by Richard Eurich from the Imperial War Museum a reminder that intel success for one side may be failure for another #ArtofSpying
November 17, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Each week I share artwork with students on my intelligence module. This week's topic is intelligence failure. I've chosen Preparations for D-Day (1944) by Richard Eurich from the Imperial War Museum a reminder that intel success for one side may be failure for another #ArtofSpying
Each week I share with students on my intelligence module, Vigilant State, an artwork relating to that week’s topic. This week we were discussing intelligence analysis and I selected ‘Road to Baghdad’ (1996) by Elwyn Lynn from the AustralianWar Memorial art collection #ArtofSpying
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Each week I share with students on my intelligence module, Vigilant State, an artwork relating to that week’s topic. This week we were discussing intelligence analysis and I selected ‘Road to Baghdad’ (1996) by Elwyn Lynn from the AustralianWar Memorial art collection #ArtofSpying
Continuing to collect artworks relating to intelligence. Struck by these from Australian War Memorial ‘Two types: Imperial and Colonial Intelligence Officer’ (1901) by Norman Hardy & untitled portrait of a member of the Australian Intelligence Corps, Afghanistan (2013) by Campbell Myers #ArtofSpying
October 30, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Continuing to collect artworks relating to intelligence. Struck by these from Australian War Memorial ‘Two types: Imperial and Colonial Intelligence Officer’ (1901) by Norman Hardy & untitled portrait of a member of the Australian Intelligence Corps, Afghanistan (2013) by Campbell Myers #ArtofSpying
I’m again sharing artworks with students on my intelligence module Vigilant State. I now have more paintings than topics but this week we’re discussing intelligence collection and I’ll find space for Burton Silverman’s portrait of “Emil Goldfus” aka Soviet illegal Rudolf Abel. #ArtofSpying
October 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I’m again sharing artworks with students on my intelligence module Vigilant State. I now have more paintings than topics but this week we’re discussing intelligence collection and I’ll find space for Burton Silverman’s portrait of “Emil Goldfus” aka Soviet illegal Rudolf Abel. #ArtofSpying
More holiday reading, I’ve been looking forward to reading this for a while - Intelligence and espionage in the English Republic 1600 - 60 by Alan Marshall, with some great cover art - The Hired Assassins by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier, from the Wallace Collection #ArtofSpying
August 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
More holiday reading, I’ve been looking forward to reading this for a while - Intelligence and espionage in the English Republic 1600 - 60 by Alan Marshall, with some great cover art - The Hired Assassins by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier, from the Wallace Collection #ArtofSpying