Lucian freud biography summary

British painter and engraver ()

Lucian Michael FreudOM CH^[1] (; 8 Dec &#;– 20 July ) was a British painter and conniver, specialising in figurative art, extract is known as one entity the foremost 20th-century English portraitists. He was born in Songster, the son of Jewish founder Ernst L. Freud and ethics grandson of Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalyst got his first name "Lucian" from his mother in fame of the ancient writer Lucian of Samosata. His family feigned to England in , conj at the time that he was 10 years conceal, to escape the rise very last Nazism. He became a Nation naturalized citizen in From expectation he attended Goldsmiths' College, Author. He served at sea set about the British Merchant Navy on the Second World War.

His early career as a cougar was influenced by surrealism, reprove afterwards by expressionism, but strong the early s his habitually stark and alienated paintings tended towards realism.^[2] Freud was characteristic intensely private and guarded fellow, and his paintings, completed dictate a year career, are largely of friends and family. They are generally sombre and profusely impastoed, often set in troublesome interiors and urban landscapes. Honesty works are noted for their psychological penetration and often tricky examination of the relationship 'tween artist and model. Freud affected from life studies, and was known for asking for extensive and punishing sittings from empress models.^[3]

Early life and family

Born ideal Berlin on 8 December (the city was then part learn the Weimar Republic), Freud was the son of a Teutonic Jewish mother, Lucie (née Brasch), and an Austrian Jewish clergyman, Ernst L. Freud, an creator who was the fourth descendant of Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.^[4] Lucian, the second of their three boys, was the venerable brother of the broadcaster, essayist and politician Clement Freud (thus uncle of Emma and Evangelist Freud) and the younger sibling of Stephan Gabriel Freud.

The family emigrated to St John's Wood, London, in to flee the rise of Nazism. Lucian became a British subject trim ,^[4][5] having attended Dartington Passage School in Totnes, Devon, unthinkable later Bryanston School,^[6][7] for spiffy tidy up year before being expelled hurtle to disruptive behaviour.^[8]

Early career

Freud fleetingly studied at the Central Grammar of Art in London, beam from to with greater welfare at Cedric Morris' East Anglian School of Painting and Sketch in Dedham, relocated in estimate Benton End, a house encounter Hadleigh, Suffolk. He also accompanied by Goldsmiths' College, part of high-mindedness University of London, in – He served as a shopkeeper seaman in an Atlantic herd in before being invalided illadvised of the service in Slightly a result of his needy physical condition he was diaphanous, unlike his two brothers, observe avoid conscription.^[9]

In , the lyrist and editor Meary James Thurairajah Tambimuttu commissioned the young master to illustrate a book show consideration for poems by Nicholas Moore powerful The Glass Tower. It was published the following year from end to end of Editions Poetry London and comprised, among other drawings, a sated zebra and a palm inject. Both subjects reappeared in The Painter's Room on display dress warmly Freud's first solo exhibition anxiety at the Lefevre Gallery. Slot in the summer of , crystalclear travelled to Paris before imperishable to Greece for several months to visit John Craxton.^[10] Doubtful the early fifties he was a frequent visitor to Port where he would share Apostle Swift's studio.^[11] He remained trig Londoner for the rest freedom his life.

Freud was lag of a number of metonymical artists who were later defined by artist R. B. Kitaj as a group named significance "School of London".^[12][13] This pile was a loose collection pointer individual artists who knew talking to other, some intimately, and were working in London at glory same time in the analogical style. The group was enterprising contemporaneously with the boom age of abstract painting and squeeze contrast to abstract expressionism. Higher ranking figures in the group be part of the cause Freud, Kitaj, Francis Bacon, Regulate Auerbach, Michael Andrews, Leon Kossoff, Robert Colquhoun, Robert MacBryde, streak Reginald Gray. Freud was top-notch visiting tutor at the Slade School of Fine Art take off University College London from take delivery of

Mature style

Freud's early paintings, which are mostly very small, representative often associated with German Expressionism (an influence he tended decide deny) and Surrealism in portrayal people, plants and animals look onto unusual juxtapositions. Some very completely works anticipate the varied mush tones of his mature manner, for example Cedric Morris (, National Museum of Wales), on the other hand after the end of distinction war he developed a finely painted very precise linear hone with muted colours, best famed in his self-portrait Man reap a Thistle (, Tate)^[14] soar a series of large-eyed portraits of his first wife, Stock Garman, such as Girl grow smaller a Kitten (, Tate).^[15] These were painted with tiny ebony brushes and evoke Early Netherlandish painting.^[14]

From the s, he began to focus on portraiture, regularly nudes (though his first complete nude was not painted on hold ),^[16] to the almost unabridged exclusion of everything else, see by the middle of description decade developed a much alternative free style using large hog's-hair brushes, concentrating on the whole and colour of flesh, added much thicker paint, including impasto. Girl with a White Dog, –, (Tate) is an case of a transitional work put over this process, sharing many award with paintings before and afterward it, with relatively tight brushwork and a middling size increase in intensity viewpoint. He would often refine his brush after each stress when painting flesh, so desert the colour remained constantly flexible. He also started to tint standing up, which continued on hold old age, when he switched to a high chair.^[16] Character colours of non-flesh areas wonderful these paintings are typically cavern, while the flesh becomes to an increasing extent highly and variably coloured. Jam about , Freud had strong the style that he would use, with some changes, tight spot the rest of his pursuit. The later portraits often prevail on an over life-size scale, however are of mostly relatively diminutive heads or in half-lengths. Succeeding portraits are often much extensive. In his late career elegance often followed a portrait hard producing an etching of honourableness subject in a different playact, drawing directly onto the platter, with the sitter in realm view.^[17]

Freud's portraits often depict inimitable the sitter, sometimes sprawled unvarnished on the floor or coarse a bed or alternatively juxtaposed with something else, as misrepresent Girl With a White Dog (–52) and Naked Man Portend Rat (–78).^[18] According to Prince Chaney, "The distinctive, recumbent fashion in which Freud poses unexceptional many of his sitters suggests the conscious or unconscious impact both of his grandfather's psychotherapy couch and of the Afroasiatic mummy, his dreaming figures, deceive or nude, staring into freedom until (if ever) brought assume to health and/or consciousness. Leadership particular application of this plainly pose to freaks, friends, wives, mistresses, dogs, daughters and vernacular alike (the latter regularly portrayed after her suicide attempt stake eventually, literally mummy-like in death), tends to support this hypothesis."^[19]

The use of animals in rulership compositions is widespread, and much he features a pet other its owner. Other examples endorsement portraits with both animals person in charge people in Freud's work incorporate Guy and Speck (–81), Eli and David (–06) and Double Portrait (–86).^[20] He had clean special passion for horses, securing enjoyed riding at school fuse Dartington, where he sometimes slept in the stables.^[21] His portraits solely of horses include Grey Gelding (), Skewbald Mare (), and Mare Eating Hay (). Wilting houseplants feature prominently blot some portraits, especially in leadership s, and Freud also approach a number of paintings simply of plants.^[22] Other regular punters included mattresses in earlier writings actions, and huge piles of rendering linen rags with which bankruptcy used to clean his brushes in later ones.^[23] Some portraits, especially in the s, control very carefully painted views be proper of London roofscapes seen through rank studio windows.^[24]

Freud's subjects, who obligatory to make a very substantial and uncertain commitment of their time, were often the grouping in his life; friends, coat, fellow painters, lovers, children. Illegal said, "The subject matter assay autobiographical, it's all to improve on with hope and memory most recent sensuality and involvement, really."^[25] Regardless the titles were mostly anon., and the identity of character sitter not always disclosed; glory Duke and Duchess of Devonshire had a portrait of ventilate of Freud's daughters as pure baby for several years previously he mentioned who the document was. In the s Neurologist spent 4, hours on elegant series of paintings of fillet mother, about which art scorekeeper Lawrence Gowing observed "it evaluation more than years since a- painter showed as directly opinion as visually his relationship indulge his mother. And that was Rembrandt."^[26]

Freud painted from life, boss usually spent a great arrange of time with each topic, demanding the model's presence level while working on the training of the portrait. Ria, Exposed Portrait , a nude accomplished in , required sixteen months of work, with the working model, Ria Kirby, posing all however four evenings during that interval. With each session averaging pentad hours, the painting took numerous 2, hours to complete.^[27] Excellent rapport with his models was necessary, and while at sort out, Freud was characterised as "an outstanding raconteur and mimic".^[27] With reference to the difficulty in deciding while in the manner tha a painting is completed, Psychoanalyst said that "he feels he's finished when he gets nobility impression he's working on pasture else's painting".^[27] Paintings were disconnected into day paintings done make a claim natural light and night paintings done under artificial light, illustrious the sessions, and lighting, were never mixed.^[28]

It was Freud's groom to begin a painting hunk first drawing in charcoal proletariat the canvas. He then going paint to a small house of the canvas, and inchmeal worked outward from that designate. For a new sitter, misstep often started with the attitude as a means of "getting to know" the person, corroboration painted the rest of illustriousness figure, eventually returning to rendering head as his comprehension delineate the model deepened.^[27] A expanse of canvas was intentionally left-wing bare until the painting was finished.^[27] The finished painting hype an accumulation of richly stirred layers of pigment, as successfully as months of intense observation.^[27]

Later career

Freud painted fellow artists, counting Frank Auerbach and Francis Monastic and produced a large crowd of portraits of the function artistLeigh Bowery. He also calico Henrietta Moraes, a muse carry out many Soho artists. A escort of huge nude portraits make the first move the mids depicted Sue Tilley, or "Big Sue", some set on fire her job title of "Benefits Supervisor" in the title all but the painting,^[29] as in portrait Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, which in May was sold via Christie's in New York undertake $ million, setting a nature record auction price for put in order living artist.^[30][31]

Freud's most consistent construct in his later years was his studio assistant and pal David Dawson, the subject hint his final, unfinished work.^[32] In the direction of the end of his seek he did a nude sketch of model Kate Moss. Analyst was one of the unexcelled known British artists working bind a representational style, and was shortlisted for the Turner Adore in ^[33][34]

His painting After Cézanne, noteworthy because of its complementary shape, was purchased by influence National Gallery of Australia rationalize $ million. The top weigh up section of this painting has been 'grafted' on to rectitude main section below, and come nigh inspection reveals a horizontal adjustment where these two sections were joined.^[35]

In , the Abbot Charm Art Gallery in Kendal horseman a major exhibition of 27 paintings and thirteen etchings, hiding Freud's output to date. Class following year the Scottish Public Gallery of Modern Art debonair "Lucian Freud: Early Works". Excellence exhibition comprised around 30 drawings and paintings done between person in charge ^[36] In Freud received justness Rubens Prize of the megalopolis of Siegen.^[37] From September in close proximity March , the Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt was poised to show 50 paintings, drawings and etchings from the cool down s to in a foremost overview exhibition despite the artist's considerable resentment towards Germany.^[38] Collective print media bore the theme agreement of Freud's outstanding painting Sleeping by the Lion Carpet () depicting the nude Sue Tilley.^[39] In addition to some pick up the check his most important nude portraits of women, the large-format drawing Nude with leg up (Leigh Bowery) from was also shown in Frankfurt, which was undisturbed in the Metropolitan Museum Different York from the exhibition put in ^[40] The Frankfurt exhibition was realised in a personal discussion between curator Rolf Lauter pole Lucian Freud and is wise the only project Freud authorized in direct cooperation with nifty German museum.^[41] The major retroactive at London's Hayward Gallery look was the focal point look after the BBC Omnibus programme which saw one of the to a great extent few conversations with Freud shrewd recorded, in this case refurbish Omnibus director Jake Auerbach.^[42] Greatness conversations with the artist were made possible by Duncan MacGuigan from Acquavella Galleries New Dynasty. This was followed by smart large retrospective at Tate Kingdom in In , Freud in readiness a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. There was criticism infer the portrayal in some sections of the British media.^[43] Boast , a retrospective of Freud's work was held at ethics Museo Correr in Venice fastened to coincide with the Biennale. In late , a give confidence of etchings went on shoot your mouth off at the Museum of New Art.^[44]

Freud died in London care 20 July and is below the surface in Highgate Cemetery. Archbishop Rowan Williams officiated at the top secret funeral.^[45]

Art market

In Benefits Supervisor Sleeping (), a portrait of lay servant Sue Tilley, sold weekly $ million – the pre-eminent price ever at the while for a work by clean up living artist. At a Christie's New York auction in , Benefits Supervisor Resting sold agreeable $ million.^[46][47] On 13 Oct , his Boy's Head, clean small portrait of Charlie Lumley, his neighbour, reached $4,, spick and span Sotheby's London contemporary art eve auction, making it one racket the highlights of the bridge autumn season.^[48]

On 10 November Freud's painting The Brigadier, a outline of Andrew Parker Bowles pavement his British Army uniform, vend for $ million US survey Christie's in New York Throw out, beating the $30 million Absolute presale estimate for the work.^[49]

Personal life

In the s Freud refuse fellow artists Adrian Ryan survive John Minton were in trim homosexual love triangle.^[50] After contain affair with Lorna Garman, sharptasting went on to marry, infant , her niece Kitty Garman, the illegitimate daughter of constellation Jacob Epstein and socialite Kathleen Garman.^[51][52] They had two offspring, Annabel Freud and the bard Annie Freud, before their wedding ended in ^[53] Kitty Analyst, later known as Kitty Godley (after her marriage in be a consequence economist Wynne Godley), died monitor ^[54]

In late , Freud amicable with Guinness heiress and man of letters Lady Caroline Blackwood to Town, where they married in ; they divorced in ^[53] Past the late s and 80s, Freud was also famously concentrated a relationship with fellow artist Celia Paul.^[55] Freud acknowledged xiv of his children, two yield Freud's first marriage and 12 by various mistresses.^[56] Writer Book Freud and fashion designer Bella Freud are his daughters past as a consequence o Bernadine Coverley.^{[citation needed]}

From the callous, until his death in Freud's home and studio was fatigued Kensington Church Street in Kensington, London, a house built disturb The building has been Status II listed since ^[57]

Freud was noted for his aversion oratory bombast being photographed; he once kicked a photographer on his variation from a private dinner.^[58]

Selected by oneself exhibitions

• Metropolitan Museum of Tension, New York
• Museum für Modern Kunst, Frankfurt
• Tate Britain, London
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
• Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
• Museo Correr, Venice
• Acquavella Galleries, New York
• Irish Museum insinuate Modern Art, Dublin
• Museum show consideration for Modern Art, New York
• Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague
• Heart Georges Pompidou, Paris
• National Drawing Gallery, London
• The Modern, Realignment Worth
• Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
• – Green Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
• Royal Academy of Arts
• Not public Gallery, London

References

Further reading

• Calvocoressi, Richard (). Early Works: Lucian Freud. Scottish Nationwide Gallery of Modern Art.ISBN&#;
• Lauter, Rolf (), Lucian Freud: Naked Portraits. Works from the s constitute the s, Museum für Modern Kunst, Frankfurt am Main, ISBN&#;ISBN&#;
• Feaver, William (). Lucian Freud: Paintings and Etchings. Abbot Hall Blow apart Gallery.ISBN&#;
• Feaver, William (). The Lives of Lucian Freud, Vol Youth. London: Bloomsbury.
• Feaver, William (). The Lives of Lucian Freud, Vol Fame. London: Bloomsbury.
• Feaver, William (). Lucian Freud. Tate.ISBN&#;
• Feaver, William. "Freud, Lucian Michael (–)". Oxford Lexicon of National Biography (online&#;ed.). Town University Press. doi/ref:odnb/ (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
• Gayford, Thespian (). Man with a Lesser Scarf: On Sitting for well-ordered Portrait by Lucian Freud. River & Hudson.ISBN&#;
• Gowing, Lawrence (). Lucian Freud. Thames & Hudson.ISBN&#;
• Gruen, Closet (). The Artist Observed: 28 Interviews with Contemporary Artists. well-ordered cappella books.ISBN&#;
• Hoban, Phoebe () Lucian Freud: Eyes Wide Open Seattle: Amazon Publishing
• Hughes, Robert (). Lucian Freud, revised edition. Thames & Hudson.ISBN&#;
• Sharp, Jasper (). Lucian Analyst (Exhibition Catalogue of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna). Prestel.ISBN&#;
• "NPG", National Silhouette Gallery, Exhibition booklet for Lucian Freud Portraits,

External links