diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/art/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/art/+page.svelte
index 4f576b5..7f1cd55 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/art/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/art/+page.svelte
@@ -27,12 +27,15 @@
   // screens; desktop and portrait art stay upright). Aspect is read off the loaded image.
   let landscape = $state(false);
 
-  // Desktop zoom: inside the lightbox, magnify the artwork and pan by moving the cursor
-  // (transform-origin tracks the pointer). Mobile keeps native pinch — the Zoom button is
-  // hidden there. ox/oy are the transform-origin in %.
+  // Desktop zoom: a gallery inspector inside the lightbox. Variable 1×–4× via a floating
+  // toolbar (− / slider / + / % / Fit); moving the cursor pans (transform-origin tracks the
+  // pointer). Mobile keeps native pinch — the Zoom button + toolbar are hidden there.
   let zoomed = $state(false);
-  let ox = $state(50), oy = $state(50);
-  function enterZoom() { ox = 50; oy = 50; zoomed = true; }
+  let zoomLevel = $state(1.5);         // scale factor; enter at a gentle 1.5×
+  let ox = $state(50), oy = $state(50); // transform-origin (%) — the panned-to point
+  function enterZoom() { zoomLevel = 1.5; ox = 50; oy = 50; zoomed = true; }
+  function fit() { zoomed = false; }   // back to the framed gallery view
+  function setZoom(v) { zoomLevel = Math.max(1, Math.min(4, Math.round(v * 10) / 10)); }
   function panZoom(e) {
     const r = e.currentTarget.getBoundingClientRect();
     ox = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, ((e.clientX - r.left) / r.width) * 100));
@@ -41,11 +44,11 @@
 
   function onKey(e) {
     if (e.key !== 'Escape') return;
-    if (zoomed) zoomed = false;        // Escape steps out of zoom first, then closes
+    if (zoomed) zoomed = false;        // Escape steps out of inspection first, then closes
     else if (zoom) zoom = false;
   }
-  // Leaving the lightbox always drops zoom too, so re-opening starts framed.
-  $effect(() => { if (!zoom) zoomed = false; });
+  // Leaving the lightbox always resets the inspector, so re-opening starts framed.
+  $effect(() => { if (!zoom) { zoomed = false; zoomLevel = 1.5; } });
   // Move focus to the lightbox when it opens, so Escape/Enter work and focus is trapped sanely.
   $effect(() => { if (zoom && lightboxEl) lightboxEl.focus(); });
 
@@ -241,12 +244,18 @@
       <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="18" height="18" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.2" stroke-linecap="round" aria-hidden="true"><path d="M6 6l12 12M18 6L6 18" /></svg>
     </button>
     {#if zoomed}
-      <!-- magnified inspection view: move the cursor to pan, click to zoom back out -->
-      <button class="lb-zoom" onpointermove={panZoom} onclick={() => (zoomed = false)} aria-label="Zoom out">
+      <!-- gallery inspector: move the cursor to pan; zoom with the toolbar; Fit/Esc to exit -->
+      <div class="lb-zoom" onpointermove={panZoom} role="img" aria-label="{art.title}, magnified">
         <img src={art.image_url_large || art.image_url} alt={art.title}
-             style="transform-origin:{ox}% {oy}%" draggable="false" />
-      </button>
-      <span class="lb-hint">Move to look closer · click to zoom out</span>
+             style="transform:scale({zoomLevel});transform-origin:{ox}% {oy}%" draggable="false" />
+      </div>
+      <div class="lb-tools" role="group" aria-label="Zoom controls">
+        <button class="lb-t" onclick={() => setZoom(zoomLevel - 0.1)} aria-label="Zoom out">−</button>
+        <input class="lb-slider" type="range" min="1" max="4" step="0.1" bind:value={zoomLevel} aria-label="Zoom level" />
+        <button class="lb-t" onclick={() => setZoom(zoomLevel + 0.1)} aria-label="Zoom in">+</button>
+        <span class="lb-pct">{Math.round(zoomLevel * 100)}%</span>
+        <button class="lb-fit" onclick={fit}>Fit</button>
+      </div>
     {:else}
       <span class="lb-stage">
         <span class="frame frame--{frame} lb-frame" style="--frame-scale:{thickness}">
@@ -546,14 +555,33 @@
   /* magnified inspection view (desktop): cursor pans via transform-origin */
   .lb-zoom {
     position: relative; z-index: 1; width: 96vw; height: 88vh; overflow: hidden;
-    border: none; background: none; padding: 0; cursor: zoom-out;
-    display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
+    cursor: move; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
   }
   .lb-zoom img {
     max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; width: auto; height: auto; object-fit: contain;
-    transform: scale(2.5); will-change: transform; user-select: none; -webkit-user-drag: none;
+    will-change: transform; user-select: none; -webkit-user-drag: none;
   }
-  .lb-hint { position: relative; z-index: 1; margin-top: 10px; color: #5b636e; font-size: 0.85rem; }
+  /* floating gallery-inspector toolbar — a quiet translucent dark pill, white controls */
+  .lb-tools {
+    position: absolute; bottom: clamp(14px, 3vh, 28px); left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%);
+    z-index: 3; display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px;
+    background: rgba(20, 18, 16, 0.72); -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(6px); backdrop-filter: blur(6px);
+    border-radius: 999px; padding: 8px 14px; color: #fff; box-shadow: 0 8px 24px -12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+  }
+  .lb-t {
+    width: 26px; height: 26px; flex: none; border-radius: 999px; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.28);
+    background: none; color: #fff; cursor: pointer; font-size: 1.05rem; line-height: 1;
+    display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
+  }
+  .lb-t:hover { background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18); }
+  .lb-slider { width: clamp(120px, 22vw, 220px); accent-color: #fff; cursor: pointer; }
+  .lb-pct { font-size: 0.8rem; font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums; min-width: 3.2em; text-align: center; opacity: 0.92; }
+  .lb-fit {
+    border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.32); background: none; color: #fff; cursor: pointer;
+    border-radius: 999px; padding: 4px 13px; font-size: 0.82rem; font-family: inherit; font-weight: 600;
+  }
+  .lb-fit:hover { background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.18); }
+  @media (hover: none) { .lb-tools { display: none; } }   /* mobile keeps native pinch */
   .lb-zoombtn {
     display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 7px; cursor: pointer;
     border: 1px solid #d9cdeb; background: #fff; color: var(--accent);