All in the detail

An apparent mistake in facial expression in one of the world's most famous sculptures actually allows the artwork to truly convey anguish, writes Kelly Grovier.

Caravaggio's The Supper at Emmaus features a snag in a wicker basket that mirrors an underground Christian emblem, writes Kelly Grovier.

Van Eyck's Ghent altarpiece features a surprising candidate for the forbidden fruit. Kelly Grovier explores how it gives spiritual coherence to the 15th-Century work.

Fra Angelico's Annunciation draws our eyes to a recurring symbol for both the loss of paradise and the Virgin Mary's purity. Kelly Grovier looks at what an enclosed garden reveals.

A piece of jewellery reveals the true meaning of Assyrian reliefs. Kelly Grovier explores how what appears to be a lion hunt was staged to proclaim a king's greatness.

The 1503 painting by Leonardo da Vinci is the world's most famous piece of art. Kelly Grovier explores an overlooked object that offers a different perspective on the masterpiece.

A small clay pot in Diego Velázquez’s Las Meninas could hold the key to unlocking the mysterious 17th-Century painting, argues Kelly Grovier.

An ink pot lost in the crowded fresco The School of Athens could reveal what Raphael hoped to achieve, writes Kelly Grovier.