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Freud painting of Bacon for sale £5.4m for Freud painting of Bacon
(about 24 hours later)
A rare portrait of the artist Francis Bacon, painted by his contemporary Lucien Freud, is to be sold at auction at Christie's in London. A rare portrait of the artist Francis Bacon, painted by his contemporary Lucien Freud, has been sold at auction at Christie's in London for £5.4m.
The unfinished picture, which is expected to fetch between £4m and £7m, sprang from the friendship between two of the 20th century's greatest talents. The unfinished picture, which was expected to fetch between £4m and £7m, sprang from the friendship between two of the 20th Century's greatest talents.
Bacon died in 1992, but Freud is still working at the age of 85.Bacon died in 1992, but Freud is still working at the age of 85.
The only completed painting of Bacon by Freud was stolen from a gallery in Berlin in 1988 and never recovered.The only completed painting of Bacon by Freud was stolen from a gallery in Berlin in 1988 and never recovered.
According to the Reuters news agency, while sitting for the unfinished 1956/7 portrait Bacon left abruptly to pursue his lover Peter Lacy in Tangiers, Morocco.
'Fascinating snapshot'
The BBC's Lawrence Pollard said Bacon was already regarded as a master painter before his death and most critics would rank him as one of the most important artists of the late 20th Century.The BBC's Lawrence Pollard said Bacon was already regarded as a master painter before his death and most critics would rank him as one of the most important artists of the late 20th Century.
Those same critics would also agree that Freud is the pre-eminent living painter of our age, our correspondent added.Those same critics would also agree that Freud is the pre-eminent living painter of our age, our correspondent added.
In a statement, Christie's said: "The present work offers a fascinating snapshot into the working methods of the artist at a critical point of his artistic development.
"Freud had begun to work in a more expansive way using thicker brushstrokes, liberating the paint and creating a more worked complexion, more seasoned and full of life."
The two men met shortly after the Second World War and were both figurative painters.The two men met shortly after the Second World War and were both figurative painters.
The auction is to be held at a Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale on Sunday. The auction was held at a Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale on Sunday.