A last-minute change in British law means the show goes on for a New Year blockbuster of art from Russia at London's Royal Academy. The exhibition's 120 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterworks - featuring "The Dance" (left) by Henri Matisse - also number art seized from collectors after Russia's 1917 Revolution. Thereby hangs the rub. The "From Russia" show was running in Germany when, as De Spiegel reports, Russian authorities suddenly nixed the loan to Britain. They feared some paintings could be seized to settle private legal claims going back decades. Now Britain's Culture MInister has brought forward new legislation. From tonight, descendants of the paintings' owners will be unable to claim them on British soil.
Even without this additional media attention the show is expected to be one of the Royal Academy's best-ever crowd-pullers when it opens January 26.
