Lucian Freud’s Ria, Naked Portrait has been sold at auction for an impressive €16.6 million, marking its first appearance on the market. Anna Touzin from Christie’s auction house in London shared the news with AFP, expressing excitement about the sale.
Described as a “late masterpiece,” the painting was completed after 16 months of work from 2006 to 2007. Since its completion, it had remained with a single collector. The subject of the painting, Ria Kirby, modeled for Freud nearly every day, often for up to five hours, highlighting the deep connection between the artist and his subjects.
Touzin emphasized the dedication involved in the creative process, stating, “This long engagement reflects the relationship Freud had with his models and their mutual devotion.”
Freud, regarded as one of Britain’s preeminent portrait painters, was known for his unflinching portrayal of the human form. As the grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, he focused on depicting subjects without idealization. “He didn’t aim to portray an idealized view of bodies; he wanted to paint people as they are,” Touzin explained.
Freud’s works continue to command high prices in the art market. In addition to Ria, Naked Portrait, another of his pieces, Head of a Woman, sold for over €4.5 million at the same auction. Notably, his 2022 work Large Interior, W11 set a record at €76.6 million, while the nude Benefits Supervisor Resting fetched over $56 million in 2015.
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