The real story of the girl in the Manet paintings

I read with enjoyment Kya de Longchamps’ ‘Vintage View’ (Property, Sept 14) article about the female nude in art.

Kya referred to the girl in Manet’s paintings, Luncheon on the Grass, and Olympia, which were notorious at the time, describing her as ‘a professional gal’ ‘a known prostitute’ and a meaty ‘demi-mundaine’ waiting for ‘her next client’.

Many models also became the artists’ lovers.