In a significant auction event on October 9, Lucian Freud’s ‘Ria, Naked Portrait’ sold for £10 million, ultimately fetching £11.8 million (approximately $15.4 million) at Christie’s 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale. This striking piece, completed over a grueling 2,400 hours of sittings, highlights the profound dedication and artistry of one of Britain’s most celebrated figurative painters.
The journey of the painting began in the spring of 2006, during a joint exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum featuring Freud and his friend, fellow artist Frank Auerbach. Ria Kirby, a 26-year-old art handler and aspiring painter, was tasked with hanging Freud’s works for the show. Moved by his artistry, she approached him to express her admiration.
To her surprise, Freud invited her to pose for him, an opportunity she viewed as a remarkable experience to share in the future. What she did not anticipate was the commitment that would follow; for 16 months, she dedicated her evenings, seven days a week, to the sittings, totaling five hours each time.
The completed work, ‘Ria, Naked Portrait’ (2006-2007), became a highlight of the recent Frieze London, capturing the attention of art enthusiasts and collectors alike. Its successful auction underscores Freud’s enduring legacy and the value of his masterful depictions of the human form.
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