The legacy of Hartlepool shipbuilding dynasty the Gray family will be explored in a new exhibition in the town.
Gray's Exhibition will feature some of the works of art which were donated to Hartlepool by the Gray family as part of the founding of the town's Museum Service.
It will also feature artefacts relating to Sir William Gray and Company shipbuilders.
Among paintings on display will be The Sleeping Beauty, painted by Daniel Maclise in the 1800s.
Also on show will be Mark Antony's Oration by George Edward Robertson, A Morning Ride by John Charlton and Apple Dumplings by George Dunlop Leslie.
There will also be a display by artist Kath O'Connor, featuring items from Hartlepool Cultural Services' Victorian natural history collection.
"The role played by Sir William Gray and his family in Hartlepool's industrial, social and cultural development was impressive and extensive.
"Among their remarkable legacy was the wonderful collection of paintings which they gave to the town and we're delighted to feature many of them together in this major exhibition which tells the story of this remarkable family and their generosity to the town and its people."
The Director of the Bowes Museum in County Durham, Adrian Jenkins, says the identification of a rare Van Dyck portrait as an original is a huge boost. It was spotted on a website by art historian Dr Bendor Grosvenor.
"This is a thrilling attribution for the Bowes Museum and the end of a chain of events which began with the photography of the entire collection five years ago for the Public Catalogue Foundation. We are very grateful ro Bendor for his work identifying both the sitter and the artist of this painting and re-instating it to its original glory."
The Pasmore Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee has split opinion among the community since the late 60s. But now, two renowned Swedish artists want to copy it. They are planning on recreating every detail of Victor Pasmore's pavilion, at Tensta Kuntsthall art gallery in Sweden.
Exhibition held to mark Angel of the North's 15th birthday
A special exhibition has gone on display to mark the 15th anniversary of the Angel of the North in Gateshead.
The sculpture, which has been visited by more than two million people, was completed on this day in 1998.
To mark the occasion a rarely seen prototype, used by designer Antony Gormley, has been unveiled at an art gallery in the North East.
The scale version of the sculpture has been in storage for the last 15 years but was recently restored by the Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums Service.
A group of children from St Joseph's Primary School in Gateshead also attended the unveiling of the maquette.
"It's difficult to believe that it's so long ago that we welcomed the Angel of the North to its home in Gateshead.
At the same time, it's hard to imagine Gateshead without it.
The Angel has become part of what makes Gateshead, the North East and indeed even Britain, special."
– Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council
"The Angel of the North is intrinsic to the landscape of the North East region now, a true iconic figure.
We're very excited to welcome this extraordinary item to the Shipley Art Gallery."
– Julie Milne, chief curator of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums
The Helen McArdle Care group did a charity walk past the Angel Credit: Helen McArdle CarePeople gather around the feet of the Angel of the North Credit: Emma WhitfieldThe Angel of the North looms over a man beside it Credit: @x_MissGLC_xThe Angel of the North in sunnier weather Credit: Helen HolmesAnthony Gormley's Angel of the North Credit: Carolyn Farthing-Dunn
A member of the public walks past a large scale drawing by Paul Noble Credit: Philip Toscano/PA Wire
An artist from Tyneside who was one of the final four in the Turner Prize narrowly missed out on clinching the title last night.
Paul Noble, originally from Whitley Bay, was shortlisted for the prize with Luke Fowler, Elizabeth Price and Spartacus Chetwynd.
The artist spent his childhood at Whitley Bay High School before going on to do an arts foundation course at Sunderland Poly, then studying for three years at Humberside College of Higher Education.
A sculpture by Paul Noble Credit: Philip Toscano/PA Wire
Mr Noble, who had been shortlisted for his fantasy pencil drawings, lost out to Elizabeth Price - whose work went on display at the Baltic gallery in Gateshead.
The winning artwork, entitled "Here", was a trilogy of videos as installation artwork originally shown at the North East gallery in 2011.
An image from Elizabeth Price's exhibition Credit: Tate Britain/Elizabeth Price
