A painting by Lucian Freud sold for 13.9 million pounds (16.6 million euros) on Wednesday at an auction at Christie’s in London. Ria, Naked Portrait (Portrait of Ria Nude), which was the first to come to market, was the main attraction of the sale, reaching 13.89 million pounds, including fees.
“It’s a late masterpiece, Anna Touzin of Christie’s told AFP. It was painted between 2006 and 2007 and has been in the same collection since its creation..
“Paint people as they are”
The works of Freud, who died in 2011 at the age of 88, considered one of the greatest British portraitists, have attracted growing interest in recent years. Freud, grandson of the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, is known for his uncompromising nudes and self-portraits, with flabby breasts or rounded bellies.
“He doesn’t want to give an idealized view of the body, he really tries to paint people as they are”recalled Anna Touzin. L’“honesty” of Freud made him one of the most sought-after artists on the art market.
In 2022, his table Large interior, W11 was sold for a record $86 million, while in 2015 another nude, Benefits Supervisor Resting (Rest Aid Supervisor), was awarded for more than $56 million.
Christie’s sale also included a Woman’s head by Freud, sold for 4.18 million pounds sterling (5 million EUR). Works by Marc Chagall, Berthe Morisot, Willem De Kooning and Jeff Koons also went under the hammer.