LONDON (Reuters) – Bold claims have been made on behalf of 19th century French painter Edouard Manet – that he invented modern art, or was the man who bridged realism and impressionism.

A major exhibition of his work, dubbed a “blockbuster” by the media for its scale and some euphoric early reviews, opens at London’s Royal Academy on Saturday and seeks to underline Manet’s importance which few recognized during his lifetime.

LONDON (Reuters) – Flamboyant British film director Michael Winner, best known for the “Death Wish” series of the 1970s and 80s, died at his London home on Monday. He was 77.

In a statement released to the media, his wife Geraldine said: “A light has gone out in my life.”

LONDON, Jan 17 (Reuters) – When the public sits up and
notices the art market, it is usually when an anonymous buyer
pays a mind-boggling sum to acquire a prized painting or
sculpture.

In 2012, Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” fetched a record $120
million, a Mark Rothko abstract soared to $87 million and a
Renaissance drawing by Raphael sold for $48 million – all in a
year when making ends meet was most people’s priority.

LONDON (Reuters) – The world’s two biggest auction houses are predicting a bumper start to 2013, with estimates from key sales in London this February up sharply from last year.

Confident that super-rich collectors and wealthy art institutions will continue their hunt for the very rarest works of art, both Christie’s and Sotheby’s are looking to improve on already spectacular gains in recent years.

LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) – The first official portrait of
Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge, popularly known by her former
name Kate Middleton, was unveiled in London on Friday, and
opinion was sharply divided over an image many deemed
unflattering.

The 31-year-old, who as a glamorous future queen is one of
the world’s most photographed women, is portrayed in the large
canvas with a faint smile, long, copper-tinted hair and shadow
under her eyes.

LONDON (Reuters) – Scottish singer Emeli Sande joined folk act Mumford and Sons and indie rockers Alt-J with three BRIT Award nominations apiece on Thursday, but the biggest surprise was a posthumous nod for Amy Winehouse 18 months after she died.

Winehouse was included in the “British female solo” category, in which she was up against Sande, Jessie Ware, Paloma Faith and Bat for Lashes.

LONDON (Reuters) – The latest James Bond movie “Skyfall” won five Oscar nominations on Thursday, the highest tally for a 007 picture, but the major categories including best picture once again eluded the franchise that has just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Hopes had been raised by bookmakers and some film critics that one of Britain’s most lucrative and best-loved cultural exports would finally make his mark at the Academy Awards at the 23rd time of asking.

LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) – “Lincoln”, the story of U.S.
President Abraham Lincoln’s battle to end slavery starring
Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, won 10 BAFTA nominations on
Wednesday, putting it ahead of the pack at Britain’s top film
honours.

The biopic was shortlisted in categories including best
film, actor, supporting actor (Tommy Lee Jones) and supporting
actress (Sally Field), but director Steven Spielberg was not
nominated.

LONDON (Reuters) – Their status as literary heavyweights could not save them from the savage sarcasm of the critics.

Novelists Martin Amis and Salman Rushdie and former poet laureate Andrew Motion were all up for critical mauling of the year in a shortlist published on Tuesday.

LONDON (Reuters) – British singer David Bowie released his first new song in nearly a decade on Tuesday in a surprise launch coinciding with his 66th birthday.

“Where Are We Now?”, produced by long-term collaborator Tony Visconti, is a melancholic look back to the time Bowie spent in Berlin in the 1970s with an accompanying video featuring black-and-white footage of the city when it was still divided.