Magritte masterpiece expected to sell for record £45m at auction

L'empire des lumieres depicts street in Brussels thought to be near where the Belgian surrealist lived

A masterpiece by the Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte, described as one of the most desirable works in private hands, is expected to sell for a record-breaking 45m when it goes to auction for the first time this year.

Helena Newman, the chair of Sotheby's Europe, said the show-stopping" painting, L'empire des lumieres, depicting a street at night underneath a bright blue sky, would be the star of an auction on London on 2 March.