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A Potentially ‘Embarrassing’ Nude Self-Portrait That Lucian Freud Disavowed Is Almost Certainly by the Artist, Experts Say
Did Lucian Freud disavow a nude self-portrait because he was embarrassed by it? That could be the case, according to the Guardian, which reports that after an unnamed Swiss collector bought the full-length painting at auction more than two decades ago, only to have the artist and his estate refute the painting’s authorship, three independent studies have now confirmed that the work is indeed an authentic work by Freud. The undated painting, titled Standing Male Nude, was sold at auction in 1997 in Geneva. According to the anonymous buyer, Freud himself telephoned and offered to pay twice the price just to have the self-portrait back in his own hands. Now, after years of…
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Lucian Freud painting denied by artist is authenticated by experts | Lucian Freud
Almost 25 years ago, a Swiss art collector bought a Lucian Freud painting – a full-length male nude – at auction. He then received a call from the British artist, asking to buy it from him. The two men did not know each other, and the collector politely refused, as he liked the picture. Three days later, he claims he received another call from a now furious Freud who told him that, unless he sold it to him, he would deny having painted it. The collector, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Observer: “He said: ‘I’ll give you more than you paid, I’ll double it.’ I declined, and he…
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