December’s Artist of the Month – Lucian Freud

Lucian Freud’s “Self-portrait with a black eye” c. 1978, oil on canvas

Grandson of the psychoanalysis founding father, Sigmund Freud, artist Lucian Freud is best known for his unique nudes and portrait paintings.  Born in Germany in December of 1922, Freud fled Nazi Germany at the young age of ten, settling in England where he became a British citizen by 1939.  In the following four years, Freud devoted his time to studying the arts at the Central School of Art, Goldsmith’s College and the East Anglican School of Painting and Drawing.  His unique styling of art was greatly influenced by fellow British artist, Francis Bacon.  The two artists became close friends and would use each other as models from time to time.  Last month, Bacon’s “Three studies of Lucian Freud” sold at Christies for $142.4 million, making a new record for most expensive work sold at auction; beating out Munch’s “Scream” which sold at Sotheby’s in 2012 for $120 million.   Freud’s works are most recognizable by the incense brush strokes that transformed the bodies of his models.  His best selling work at auction was “Benefits supervisor sleeping,” 1995, which fetched  $35 million at Christie’s in 2008. The German-born British artist passed away at the age of 88 in 2011.

Lucian Frued’s “Benefits supervisor sleeping” 1995, oil on canvas

Lucian Freud’s “Francis Bacon,” 1956-1957, oil on canvas