Arts and Culture

Andrew Wyeth, American Realist Painter of `Christina's World,' Dies at 91 Andrew Wyeth, the U.S. realist painter whose haunting portrait of a young woman lying in a field and gazing at a distant farmhouse became one of the iconic images of 20th-century American art, has died. He was 91.

Working for Robber Barons, Auchincloss Lawyer-Hero Conquers America: Books Louis Auchincloss, the Knickerbocker Trollope, has been publishing novels since 1947 and might fairly be expected to pack it in now that he’s in his 90s. Happily, he has produced another chronicle of high society in long-ago New York.

Where to Find French, Italian Food for Gourmets on Budget: London Dining A restaurant serving delicious and reasonably priced Italian food, with a wine list that is both exciting and ungreedy, should be a winning formula whatever the economy is doing. Right now, it looks like a stroke of genius.

John Mortimer, Creator of Rumpole of the Bailey TV Series, Dies at Age 85 John Mortimer, the creator of the humorous “Rumpole of the Bailey” TV series about a London attorney, has died at the age of 85 after a long illness.

Revolution, Murder, Love Jostle in Paris Twin Tribute to `Les Miserables' The industry surrounding “Les Miserables” has grown, with two exhibitions in Paris likely to appeal to fans of the world’s longest-running musical.

Movie Buyers Shop for Bargains at Sundance Festival as Studios Pull Back Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival, the largest U.S. showcase for independent movies, may look smaller this year to filmmakers hoping for offers from a major studio.

Leonard Cohen Breaks 15-Year U.S. Silence in N.Y. Show at Revamped Beacon Come gather ‘round people wherever you roam, and admit that the wrinkles upon you have grown.

Beyonce's Designer B. Michael Goes Lyrical to Dress Obama's Inaugural Poet New York-based fashion designer b. Michael, who has dressed Cate Blanchett, Beyonce and Halle Berry, is adding an inaugural poet to his roster.

Notorious B.I.G.'s Rose-Tinted Biopic; Russian Ballerina Pain: Film Review Among the casualties of the late- 1990s rap-industry wars in the U.S., one of the biggest -- in several ways -- was Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls or the Notorious B.I.G., who was shot dead in Los Angeles in 1997. Now comes the biopic, “Notorious,” an unsatisfying mix of sex, violence and sentimentality.

Mendes Gets Symbolic in Transatlantic `Cherry Orchard' at BAM: John Simon The Bridge Project, an admirable venture between London and New York, gets going this week with Chekhov’s last play, “The Cherry Orchard,” directed by Sam Mendes at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

It's Time to See Joke as `Entropa' Art Hoaxer Mocks Europe: Martin Gayford Whether “Entropa,” Czech artist David Cerny’s hoax representation of the 27 European states, was a good work of art, it certainly was a good joke.

Cole Porter's Gems, Rough and Polished, Launch `Songbook': Jeremy Gerard “The Physician” epitomizes Cole Porter’s genius for unlikely rhymes and dirty thoughts. This rare gem, gamely sung Wednesday night by Tony winner Victoria Clark, was an early highlight of the opening concert of Lincoln Center’s 11th “American Songbook” series in New York.