Lucian Freud

Lucian Freud, grandson of the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, was one of the most influential British painters and draftsmen of the twentieth century. Born in Berlin, he moved to the UK with his family at the age of eleven in 1933, escaping the rise of Nazism. He would spend the rest of his life in Britain, becoming a defining figure in post-war British art.

Lucian Freud Biography

Freud is best known for his intensely observed portraits and nudes, characterised by thick, tactile layers of paint. Presenting an unflinching depiction of the human body, Freud remained committed to figurative painting at a time when abstraction and conceptual art dominated the contemporary art world. He often painted friends, lovers, and family members, requiring his sitters to pose for hours at a time. This prolonged observation allowed him to capture not only their physical appearance but also a strong sense of individuality and psychological presence.
His importance has also been reflected in the extraordinary prices achieved for his work. In 2008, Benefits Supervisor Sleeping (1995) sold for £17.2 million, setting a world record for a painting by a living artist at the time. In 2022, during the centenary of his birth, Large Interior, W11 (after Watteau) (1981–83) sold for £75.8 million, setting a new record for Freud.
Freud’s uncompromising approach to portraiture, distinctive treatment of flesh and deeply personal relationships with his sitters have continued to attract critical and commercial attention. The sustained demand for his work, together with the increasing prices achieved at auction, demonstrates his enduring influence and the lasting significance of his contribution to post-war British art.