Heatwave, Merkel Portrait, and London Auctions Shape Art News

A heatwave in France has forced cultural institutions to adapt, with museums like the Louvre and Palais de Tokyo closing early or shutting down entirely. The Louvre saw daily attendance drop from 30,000 to 22,000. Museums are offering free access to air-conditioned spaces as "climate refuges," according to Constance Rivière, president of the Musée de l'Histoire de l'Immigration. The Centre des monuments nationaux is implementing nationwide heat protection plans. In Germany, a new official portrait of former Chancellor Angela Merkel is being secretly painted by young artist Jérémie Queyras. The work, commissioned by Merkel herself, aims to create a controlled yet vulnerable historical image. In London, Sotheby's is auctioning the collection of billionaire investor Joe Lewis and his daughter Vivienne, featuring Modigliani's "Nu assis au collier" (1917/18), estimated at £45 million. The sale, without guarantees, could total up to £280 million. Sotheby's chairwoman Helena Newman highlights London's strength as a global magnet for collectors. The June auctions, including works by Freud, Bacon, Monet, Hockney, and Kusama, are seen as a key test of the art market before the summer break.