Use British English from January 2019

Édouard Manet (UK: , US: ; French: [edwaʁ manɛ]; 23 January 1832 – 30 April 1883) was a French modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
Born into an upper-class household with strong political connections, Manet rejected the naval career originally envisioned for him; he became engrossed in the world of painting. His early masterworks, The Luncheon on the Grass (Le déjeuner sur l'herbe) or Olympia, "premiering" in 1863 and '65, respectively, caused great controversy with both critics and the Academy of Fine Arts, but soon were praised by progressive artists as the breakthrough acts to the new style, Impressionism. Today too, these works, along with others, are considered watershed paintings that mark the start of modern art. The last 20 years of Manet's life saw him form bonds with other great artists of the time; he developed his own simple and direct style that would be heralded as innovative and serve as a major influence for future painters.

Gordon McDougall is a British theatre director and academic.
He has been artistic director of the Traverse Theatre, Granada TV’s Stables Theatre, the Oxford Playhouse (1974–84) and the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Canada (1984–87). From 1996 to 2001 he was Principal of the Guildford School of Acting and then became Director of Drama at the University of Oklahoma.
He was twice nominated by London critics as Best Director and his productions have been seen all over Britain and in 15 foreign countries. He has worked extensively at RADA and for Granada Television. With Michael Apted he selected the original children for Seven Up!.
Gordon McDougall has taught at over a dozen universities in Europe and the Americas. He currently runs a consultancy company, Drastic Action using theatrical techniques, and, until 2008, wrote and hosted Poem for Today, a daily poetry radio show broadcast in the US.
He is currently serving as Principal at the Musical Theatre School in Shepton Mallet, Somerset.