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Five of the Best...Exhibitions
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  3. The Sacred Made Real
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Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quoteNew Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of itquote

Andrew O'Hagan The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quoteA smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusionquote

Henry Hitchings Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quoteKitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

David Sexton Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quoteToo long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effectsquote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quoteThis is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flawsquote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quoteAlex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factorquote

Alexandra Burke

Bacon's art sells for £1m after 30 years in attic

By Alex Stephens, Evening Standard 25.04.07

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            Francis Bacon

Bits and bobs: One of the untitled portrait that went under the hammer


            Francis Bacon

Archive: One of the artist's dog studies

Unwanted clutter Francis Bacon tried to throw out from his notoriously untidy London studio fetched more than £1 million at auction.

The previously unseen paintings, letters, diaries and photographs were to be discarded by the volatile artist in 1978 when friend "Mac" Robertson volunteered to take them.

The items gathered dust in Mr Robertson's attic for nearly 30 years before being sold last night - the same week as the 15th anniversary of Bacon's death.

Mr Robertson, now 75, said: "I had no idea the bits and bobs Bacon was about to throw away might one day be worth a fortune."

The most expensive item, an untitled portrait listed at between £12,000 and £18,000, was bought for £400,000.

A painting of a reclining dog was expected to fetch £2,000-£3,000 but it sold for £260,000 at Ewbank Fine Art Auctioneers in Surrey.

Chris Proudlove, on behalf of the auctioneers, said: "There have been few, if any, auctions of the kind of the material in this archive."


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