When I wrote about the controversial English art critic Brian Sewell in the May edition of Quadrant I was aware that he was already seriously ill. Sadly Brian died on September 19 in London. I find it hard to believe I will never see his witty, informed and provocative articles in the Evening Standard again. That is a very great loss after nearly thirty-one years. Our professional lives as critics began within weeks of each other in 1984 and I have been aware of Brian’s welcome presence in the greater firmament of critics ever since. Our backgrounds may have seemed…