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Lucian Freud

British • 1922-2011

Biography

Renowned for his unflinching observations, Lucian Freud is considered one of the greatest figurative artists. He pushed the boundaries of decorum in terms of classical portraiture and nudes in order to explore his lifelong concern to honestly render the human figure, in what he called his "naked portraits."

In his paintings, Freud's layers of impasto jabs of paint create a surprisingly delicate, translucent depiction of flesh, while his etchings employ an economy of line that implies the figure more than it illustrates it. Charismatic but irascible, Freud worked only from sitters that he knew, consistently focusing on translating his direct perceptions. The resulting portraits are redolent with a stark and evocative psychological intensity, underpinned by an unexpected tenderness towards the subject.

Insights

Lucian Freud is the grandson of Sigmund Freud, the pioneer of psychoanalysis. Born in Berlin on 8 December 1922 and dying in London on 20 July 2011, Freud had moved to Britain in 1933 with his parents after Hitler came to power.
According to critic Robert Hughes, Freud's "basic pigment for flesh is Cremnitz white, an inordinately heavy pigment which contains twice as much lead oxide as flake white and much less oil medium that other whites."

"I want paint to work as flesh...my portraits to be of the people, not like them. Not having a look of the sitter, being them...As far as I am concerned the paint is the person. I want it to work for me just as flesh does."

Past Lots

354
Lucian Freud
Two Men in the Studio (H. 39, F. 46, T. 55)
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
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12
Lucian Freud
Man Posing (H. 27, F. 44, T. 37)
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £9,525
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288
Lucian Freud
Girl with Fuzzy Hair (F. 63)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $10,160
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108
Lucian Freud
Man Posing (H. 27, F. 44, T. 37)
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £15,120
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281
Lucian Freud
Girl with Fuzzy Hair (F. 63)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $15,120
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282
Lucian Freud
The New Yorker (F. 84)
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $17,640
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111
Lucian Freud
Pluto (H. 37)
Estimate £70,000 - 100,000
Sold for £75,600
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130
Lucian Freud
Portrait Head
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000
Sold for £8,190
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131
Lucian Freud
Esther
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000
Sold for £8,820
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132
Lucian Freud
Head of a Woman (H. 10)
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000
Sold for £5,040
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133
Lucian Freud
The Painter's Mother (final version) (H. 20; F. 22)
Estimate £7,000 - 10,000
Sold for £7,560
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21
Lucian Freud
Esther
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
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22
Lucian Freud
Portrait Head
Estimate $15,000 - 25,000
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27
Lucian Freud
The Painter's Mother (final version)
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $12,500
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28
Lucian Freud
A Conversation
Estimate $6,000 - 9,000
Sold for $8,750
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29
Lucian Freud
After Chardin
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $11,250
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145
Lucian Freud
A Couple
Estimate £2,500 - 3,500
Sold for £5,000
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172
Lucian Freud
Woman on a Bed
Estimate HK$80,000 - 120,000
Sold for HK$87,500
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173
Lucian Freud
Head of a Naked Girl
Estimate HK$120,000 - 160,000
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45
Lucian Freud
Head of a Man
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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104
Lucian Freud
A Couple
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000
Sold for £4,750
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14
Lucian Freud
After Chardin
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
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15
Lucian Freud
Girl Holding Her Foot
Estimate £12,000 - 18,000
Sold for £13,750
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16
Lucian Freud
Head of Bruce Bernard
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000
Sold for £13,750
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