Lucian Freud

(British, 1922–2011)

Lucian Freud was one of the major figurative painters of the 20th century. Working in an uncompromisingly confrontational style, his portraits and nudes were rendered with a thickly laden brush. Often painting himself, as well as family and friends his works are imbued with a distinctive psychological space. Painted under intense direct observation, usually over the course of many sittings, Freud observed of his practice: “The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes and, ironically, the more real.” Born on December 8, 1922 in Berlin, Germany he was the grandson of the famed psychologist Sigmund Freud. In 1933, he moved with his family to London to escape the persecution of Jews by the Nazi regime. He went on to study at the Central School of Art and Goldsmiths College, befriending Francis Bacon and associating with a group of figurative artists working in London during the late 1940s. During the course of his career he achieved widespread success and critical acclaim, notably painting a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II between 2000 and 2001. In 1983 Freud was appointed a Companion of Honour, and a member of the Order of Merit in 1993. The artist died on July 20, 2011 at the age of 88 in London, United Kingdom. Today, his works are held in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Tate Gallery in London, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, among others.

Lucian Freud News

On View

Here's Why Artists Have Flocked to London Across the Ages

by Holly Black
Here's Why Artists Have Flocked to London Across the Ages
The Appraisal

The Market for F. N. Souza and Other Indian Modernists Is Hot. What Is Driving the Surge?

by Eileen Kinsella
The Market for F. N. Souza and Other Indian Modernists Is Hot. What Is Driving the Surge?
Art History

Best Frenemies: 5 Notorious Rivalries in Art History

by Jo Lawson-Tancred
Best Frenemies: 5 Notorious Rivalries in Art History

Lucian Freud Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Lucian Freud (1,435 results)
Annie, 1961

Lucian Freud

Annie, 1961

Sale Date: July 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Head of a Girl, 1968

Lucian Freud

Head of a Girl, 1968

Sale Date: July 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Young Man with Arms Folded, 1944

Lucian Freud

Young Man with Arms Folded, 1944

Sale Date: June 30, 2021

Auction Closed

A Plate of Prawns, 1958

Lucian Freud

A Plate of Prawns, 1958

Sale Date: June 30, 2021

Auction Closed

David Hockney, 2002

Lucian Freud

David Hockney, 2002

Sale Date: June 29, 2021

Auction Closed

Head of Bruce Bernard (Hartley 26), 1985

Lucian Freud

Head of Bruce Bernard (Hartley 26), 1985

Sale Date: June 23, 2021

Auction Closed

Bella (second version) (Hartley 15), 1982

Lucian Freud

Bella (second version) (Hartley 15), 1982

Sale Date: June 23, 2021

Auction Closed

A Couple (Hartley 7), 1982

Lucian Freud

A Couple (Hartley 7), 1982

Sale Date: June 23, 2021

Auction Closed

Lawrence Gowing (second version) (Hartley 9), 1982

Lucian Freud

Lawrence Gowing (second version) (Hartley 9), 1982

Sale Date: June 23, 2021

Auction Closed

Pluto (H. 37), 1988

Lucian Freud

Pluto (H. 37), 1988

Sale Date: June 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Reclining Figure (Hartley 50), 1994

Lucian Freud

Reclining Figure (Hartley 50), 1994

Sale Date: May 27, 2021

Auction Closed

A Couple (Hartley 7), 1982

Lucian Freud

A Couple (Hartley 7), 1982

Sale Date: May 27, 2021

Auction Closed

Portrait of James Iliff, 1939–1940

Lucian Freud

Portrait of James Iliff, 1939–1940

Sale Date: June 3, 2021

Auction Closed

The Egyptian Book, 1994

Lucian Freud

The Egyptian Book, 1994

Sale Date: May 19, 2021

Auction Closed

Man Posing (Hartley 27; Figura 44), 1985

Lucian Freud

Man Posing (Hartley 27; Figura 44), 1985

Sale Date: April 23, 2021

Auction Closed

Wanted, Portrait of Francis Bacon', 2001, 2001

Lucian Freud

Wanted, Portrait of Francis Bacon', 2001, 2001

Sale Date: April 20, 2021

Auction Closed

Man Posing, 1985

Lucian Freud

Man Posing, 1985

Sale Date: April 15, 2021

Auction Closed

Pluto aged twelve, 2000

Lucian Freud

Pluto aged twelve, 2000

Sale Date: March 31, 2021

Auction Closed

Annabel, 1961

Lucian Freud

Annabel, 1961

Sale Date: March 2, 2021

Auction Closed

Self-portrait, 1974

Lucian Freud

Self-portrait, 1974

Sale Date: March 1, 2021

Auction Closed

The Painter's Mother (final version) (H. 20; , 1982

Lucian Freud

The Painter's Mother (final version) (H. 20; , 1982

Sale Date: January 21, 2021

Auction Closed

Head of a Woman (H. 10), 1982

Lucian Freud

Head of a Woman (H. 10), 1982

Sale Date: January 21, 2021

Auction Closed

Esther, 1991

Lucian Freud

Esther, 1991

Sale Date: January 21, 2021

Auction Closed

Portrait Head, 2001

Lucian Freud

Portrait Head, 2001

Sale Date: January 21, 2021

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.