All hail Caesar, Burton, Renoir

OXFORD, ENGLAND

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology: Britain’s oldest public museum reopened last month after an extensive renovation and expansion costing $100.5 million. Architect Rick Mather’s design more than doubles the Ashmolean’s exhibition space. There are 39 new galleries, as well as an education center, studios for art conservation, and a rooftop restaurant. Beaumont Street, 011-44- 1865-278000, ashweb2.ashmus.ox.ac.uk

THROUGH SEPT. 19

ARLES, FRANCE

“Caesar: The Rhone as Memory’’: Over the past two decades, the Rhone River has yielded a treasure trove of archeological objects from Roman times. Some 700 of those items are on display at the Museum of Ancient Arles. The star of the show is a marble bust of Julius Caesar that’s believed to be the only surviving sculpture of the ruler executed during his reign. Other highlights include a 6-foot marble carving of the god Neptune and a gold-leaf-covered bas-relief of the Roman goddess of victory. Rue du Cirque Romain, 011-33-4-90-18-88-88, www.arles-antique.org

THROUGH SEPT. 24

ROME

“Rome: The Painting of an Empire’’: Roman art is most commonly thought of in terms of sculpture and architecture. Yet painting was an important part of Roman visual culture as well. This exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale consists of 100 examples of Roman painting from 49 BC (right around the time that bust of Caesar now in Arles would have been executed) to the 5th century. There are frescoes and mosaics, as well as paintings on clay, wood, and glass. Via XXIV Maggio, 011-39-06-696-271, www.scuderiequirinale.it

FEB. 12-AUG. 31

WASHINGTON