French Drawings
The first part (covering the period 1500-1700) of a show of masterpieces from the British Museum’s permanent collection. These drawings are almost never exhibited, so this is a rare chance to see them. Part two, Watteau to Seurat, begins next month.
British Museum, WC1, until Oct 1
Surprise, Surprise
What a good idea to bring together early work by the likes of Cindy Sherman, Damien Hirst and the Chapman brothers, the last-named with some juvenilia! Can you guess who did what? That, supposedly, is where the surprise comes in.
ICA, SW1, until Sept 10
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Modigliani and His Models
This examination of portraits and nudes by the Italian artist is proving popular, not least because everyone knows about his dissolute life. How could someone so morally degenerate have such exquisite taste?
Royal Academy, W1, until Oct 15
How to Improve the World: 60 Years of British Art
This anthology of painting and sculpture collected since the war by the Arts Council is weighted towards the past two decades, but it does show how consistently good the selection panels have been at buying, often at bargain prices, the good and the promising.
Hayward Gallery, SE1, from Thu until Nov 19
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Ron Mueck
Much more than breathtakingly realistic, these sculptures of figures and disembodied heads are deeply disquieting, especially because they are always larger — sometimes much larger — than the real thing. Ten sculptures are shown here. Some are early works, others are very recent; some, indeed, have been made specially for this show.
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, until Oct 1
Kandinsky: The Path to Abstraction
A long overdue examination of the Russian artist’s progress, from 1908 to 1922, towards “abstract” painting — a term he disliked. The highlights are the several loans, fresh as the day they were done, from the former Soviet Union.
Tate Modern, SE1, until Oct 1
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Lines of Enquiry
As anyone who has tried to draw a bicycle from memory knows, drawing is about understanding then explaining. That’s the main message of this illuminating exhibition, which shows how, for example, physicists, astronomers, surgeons and zoologists use drawing in their work.
Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, until Sept 17
Italian Abstraction, 1910-1960
Sixty paintings trace the development of abstract painting in Italy. Balla and Prampolini are familiar, but many of the artists are known only to specialists.
Estorick Collection, N1, until Sept 24
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Howard Hodgkin
This sort-of-abstract painter has many fervent fans — including Nicholas Serota, who has selected this, the first exhibition to span his entire career. While I respond to the sensuous paint and pretty colours, I’m not convinced that Hodgkin is a “major” painter.
Tate Britain, SW1, until next Sun