What's on at Europe's Museums

The art of the bull fight

Picasso Museum, Barcelona

Pablo Picasso was in exile in France at the end of the 1950s when he watched his first bull fight. He was so overwhelmed by the spectacle, so the story goes, that he was easily persuaded to illustrate a book on the subject. The result was a series of 26 drawings entitled "Tauromaquia" ("Bull Fighting") which accompanied Torero José Delgado's book: "The Art of the Bull Fight". Picasso's drawings, as well as more than 100 of his other prints are now on show at Barcelona's Picasso Museum for the first time in more than 10 years.

Through October 26th. Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Sundays 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

Subway Graffiti

Maillol Museum, Paris

American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat began his career as a part of the New York graffiti movement, later rising to fame with his paintings which used various paint techniques in the 1980s. Now Paris' Maillol Museum is showing around 60 of his works. Basquiat, who died of a drug overdose in 1988 aged 28, had a long friendship with Andy Warhol. Drug use had plagued much of his adult life and a lot of his work is based on the idea of delivery into a meaningless world.

Through October 23rd. Daily (except Tuesdays) 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

A welcome by an Ottoman Sultan

Rijks Museum, Amsterdam

The Rijks Museum in Amsterdam is currently showing a series of paintings by the 18th century French artist Jane Baptist Vanmour. The 53 paintings, depicting an ambassador's reception at the court of Sultan Ahmed III, reveal the pomp of circumstance enjoyed by the Ottoman emperor who ruled over 300 years ago.

Through October 26th. Daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Sport in the ancient world

Coliseum, Rome

Rome's famous Coliseum is currently showing off antiquity's sports' heroes. During the period, vases, reliefs, and statures featuring the David Beckhams of Ancient Greece and Rome would have been displayed on public squares, in temples or in luxurious villas. Now they are on show at Rome's most famous landmark as " Nike: The game and the victory". Highlights from the collection -- brought together from some 12 museums all over the world -- include Polyclitus' Doryphorus, Myron's sculpture of a discus thrower, Discobol and ancient Roman boxers.

Through January 7th. Daily (expect Mondays) from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

Migration stories in Berlin

Museum for European Cultures, Berlin

Being forced to leave your homeland because you can't find work there is an age old phenomenon and Berlin is a prime example for where migrants ended up. From the Italian immigrants in the 19th century to the Russian literary migrants like Nabakov 100 years later, people from all over the world have converged on the metropolis on the banks of the Spree river for centuries. "Migrant Stories in Berlin," part of an EU project on migration, work and identity is on at the Museum for European Cultures in the new German capital and tells the stories of the people Berlin has given a new home to over the ages. Alongside oral histories and written documentation by migrants themselves, the museum is running an extensive program, including readings, displays by migrant organizations and eye-witness accounts by migrants themselves.

Through October 26th, Tuesday to Friday 10.00 a.m to 6.00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 .00 p.m.