Lucian Freud is not passionate by the skin but by the flesh whose blistering expresses the personality of the model. The culmination of art is a raw representation of the human person in which the artifact of painting disappears behind a total realism.
The big body of Sue Tilley answers this request. For months, Sue comes for sittings in the nude in the small studio of Lucian, every weekend and many other days after her working time as benefits supervisor.
The first painting is done in 1993. Sue is lying naked on the floor. Lucian appreciates that this uncomfortable position is not conducive for achieving his goal. He will set a sofa on which Sue can now keep and retrieve a serene position. The small precise movement of the brush follows a systematic observation of the model, without impulse or emotion, for many hours.
The second painting, Benefits Supervisor resting, was executed in 1994. This oil on canvas 151 x 161 cm is estimated $ 30M for sale by Christie's in New York on May 13, lot 31B. The artist has succeeded. The body is the only subject of this nude painting where her head thrown backwards has no other role than to ensure the stability of the attitude.
Benefits Supervisor sleeping was painted in the following year with the same sofa. This oil on canvas 151 x 219 cm was sold for $ 33,6M including premium by Christie's on May 13, 2008.
I invite you to play the video shared by Christie's, including some interesting comments by Sue Tilley and photos. The obesity of the muse is less visible when the body is held by her clothing.
The big body of Sue Tilley answers this request. For months, Sue comes for sittings in the nude in the small studio of Lucian, every weekend and many other days after her working time as benefits supervisor.
The first painting is done in 1993. Sue is lying naked on the floor. Lucian appreciates that this uncomfortable position is not conducive for achieving his goal. He will set a sofa on which Sue can now keep and retrieve a serene position. The small precise movement of the brush follows a systematic observation of the model, without impulse or emotion, for many hours.
The second painting, Benefits Supervisor resting, was executed in 1994. This oil on canvas 151 x 161 cm is estimated $ 30M for sale by Christie's in New York on May 13, lot 31B. The artist has succeeded. The body is the only subject of this nude painting where her head thrown backwards has no other role than to ensure the stability of the attitude.
Benefits Supervisor sleeping was painted in the following year with the same sofa. This oil on canvas 151 x 219 cm was sold for $ 33,6M including premium by Christie's on May 13, 2008.
I invite you to play the video shared by Christie's, including some interesting comments by Sue Tilley and photos. The obesity of the muse is less visible when the body is held by her clothing.
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