• Three Hours for Makeup and Household Chores: Japanese Prime Minister’s Admission Sparks Public Debate

  Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said her daily schedule is significantly more demanding than those of her male predecessors. In addition to her official duties, she spends several hours a day on makeup, bathing, cooking and other household tasks. Her remarks have sparked a heated debate about gender stereotypes and the expectations placed on Japanese women, The New York Times reports...

• “Grandparents Now Need Permission to Hug”: Controversial Ad Pulled After Backlash

  A controversy has erupted in Ireland over a public awareness campaign urging grandparents to ask their grandchildren for permission before hugging them. The video, created by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and funded by the Department of Justice, sparked accusations of absurd political correctness, disrespect toward older people and the misuse of public funds. The justice minister eventually demanded that the video be taken down...

• The Pharaohs Forgot to Sign the Paperwork: Scottish Museum Removes Mummies Over Lack of Consent

  A scandal worthy of a museum exhibit of its own has erupted in Scotland: ancient Egyptian remains have been removed from a Glasgow museum because people who died thousands of years ago never gave permission for their bodies to be displayed in public. Visitors are now greeted by explanatory signs instead of mummies — apparently the safest exhibit in an era when even pharaohs have suddenly been found to have personal-boundary issues...

• Hermès Steps Up Boutique Security After Riots in France

  French luxury house Hermès has tightened security at its stores following widespread protests in France, during which one of the brand’s boutiques in Marseille was looted. The company is also facing a new challenge: demand for its products is slowing, and sales of clothing and accessories have declined for the first time in several years, Reuters reports...

• Outrage Over Inaccessible Luxury: Why Dior and Hermès Boutiques Were Looted in France

  Riots in France have led to the looting of boutiques belonging to Dior, Celine, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Saint Laurent. Images of ransacked stores have become some of the most widely discussed scenes from the protests sweeping the country. But, as The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman observes, the attacks on luxury brands may reflect not only street violence but also growing resentment over social inequality...

• Luxury Yachts, Secret Palaces and Private Hunting Grounds: How the World’s Most Brutal Dictators Spent Their Holidays

  While millions of North Koreans struggle with hardship, Kim Jong Un appears to spend his summers very differently — aboard a luxury yacht equipped with swimming pools and water slides, the Daily Mail reports...

• Kylie Jenner’s $50 Million Fantasy Bra Set for Private Sale: Who Could Own the Most Expensive Victoria’s Secret Showpiece?

  The $50 million Fantasy Bra worn by Kylie Jenner during her Victoria’s Secret runway debut in 2026 is being prepared for a private sale. According to Page Six Style, the extraordinary piece will return to Jacob & Co.’s New York boutique, where wealthy buyers will have the opportunity to purchase it...

• French Looters Regret Stealing iPhones After Apple Locks Devices and Tracks Their Locations

  Looters who ransacked an Apple Store in Lille, France, during widespread riots have faced an unexpected consequence: the stolen iPhones have been disabled, and their locations are being tracked...

The new luxury is not simply owning expensive paintings — it is understanding why they are worth so much.

Wealthy collectors are signing up for art-history courses to learn how to distinguish a genuinely important work from something that is merely beautiful.

There comes a moment when even a well-educated visitor at the National Gallery can start to feel like an impostor. You recognize Titian. Monet, too. You might even be willing to argue about Caravaggio. But why exactly is Botticelli considered a great master? What is Mannerism? And does everyone really understand those explanations on the museum walls?

For wealthy art lovers, these questions are becoming increasingly relevant. Many already have serious works hanging in their homes, while others are preparing to make their first major purchase. But simply owning beautiful objects is no longer enough, The Times reports.

That is why adult art-history courses are experiencing a boom. They range from three-minute online lectures to intensive programs featuring visits to museums, galleries, auction houses and private collections.

One of the major players is Sotheby’s Institute, whose students include collectors, entrepreneurs, financiers, lawyers and people already working in the art industry. The goal is not simply to memorize artists’ names and dates, but to learn how to assess a work independently: who commissioned it, what historical circumstances shaped it, who owned it and why it ended up where it is today.

For a wealthy collector, that knowledge can be particularly valuable. It means relying less on the opinions of dealers, advisers and whatever happens to be fashionable at the moment.

How Much Does It Cost to Learn About Art?

The price of such an education can be surprisingly appropriate for its target audience.

The London Art History Professional Certificate at Sotheby’s Institute costs £8,900 for 12 weeks of study.

There is an even more exclusive option: HeritageXplore tours of private historic houses and their collections, with prices starting at £8,500 per person.

But getting an introduction to art does not have to cost thousands.

A 10-week introductory course at City Lit costs £279, while short programs at the Courtauld start at around £245.

For those with almost no free time, London Art Studies offers an online subscription for £8.99 a month. Some students reportedly watch three-minute lectures every morning.

Yet this trend is not simply about status.

The founders of these programs believe that knowledge can make a private collection far more fascinating. Once you understand a painting’s provenance, historical period and chain of previous owners, you begin to see much more than simply a beautiful image.

That is why wealthy collectors are increasingly willing to spend thousands of pounds not on another masterpiece for the living room, but on the opportunity to finally understand what exactly they have put on the wall.

As art educators point out, a true connoisseur is no longer someone who simply says, “I like it.”

They are someone who can explain why.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram