The market got some support from data showing private industry in the euro zone expanded for the first time in more than a year and U.S. factories also posted a strong month, but Chinese manufacturing continued to lose steam.

Raf Simons has not, so far, had a stint in a copywriting agency, but like Christian Dior himself, Simons certainly has ideas about art, which has always informed his work, although perhaps never as playfully as with this charmingly doodled collection of accessories. And how appropriate that Warhol had so much fun with footwear. If any contemporary object has enjoyed more than its 15 minutes of fame it is the shoe - closely followed by the bag.

"But this is a French film, so logically there shouldnt be this type of problem."

Two other leading portrait photographers have confirmed that they were interviewed for the commission but were not selected.

"Of course we need to take account of these cases and follow up the contacts and so on, but I think that's where it rests at the moment," he said. "It's far too soon to assume this is the start of something."