Review: Lucian Freud Portraits At National Portrait Gallery

Lots of people withdraw maintain been looking forrard to seeing the Lucian Freud Portraits exhibition which opened yesterday at the National Portrait Gallery - too which travels to Texas afterward this year. It's at nowadays all the to a greater extent than of import since his decease in conclusion year.

In summary, this legacy exhibition is excellent too I'd rattling much recommend booking tickets at nowadays every bit they are selling rattling fast.

Lucian Freud Portraits is a life represented inwards pigment rather than a biographical retrospective

Reflection - Self Portrait (1985) yesteryear Lucian Freud
i of a issue of self-portraits inwards the exhibition

One recommendation too 3 tips for visitors

This exhibition is maiden of all flat - a definite 5*.  The content is both comprehensive too absorbing - too it covers 7 decades of ikon yesteryear i human being which is a rare phenomenum of itself fifty-fifty when the painter has non been dubbed (as he was - until his death) "Britain's greatest living painter".

I highly recommend this exhibition to anyone who values drawing too ikon too who is interested inwards portraiture.  This is an exhibition of portraits yesteryear a genuinely slap-up painter of the 20th century.  None of us are probable to ever take in whatsoever other exhibition of Freud's portraits every bit skilful over again inwards our lifetimes.  It's definitely non i to miss.

In my sentiment it could exclusively ever live on topped by a comprehensive retrospective which included some of his paintings of other subjects - including his portraits of horses too dogs.

Tip 1: yous withdraw a lot of fourth dimension and/or withdraw to take in it to a greater extent than than once!  I saw it twice on Midweek - i time inwards the morning time at the press sentiment too and so over again inwards the afternoon at the Members PV.  I know I'm going to withdraw maintain to go over again - too the argue is that the exhibition is huge.  There's 130 paintings, drawings too etchings inwards the exhibition too if yous spent exactly a infinitesimal on each i too moving to the next, it would accept yous to a greater extent than than 2 hours to acquire round!  The thing is rattling many of the paintings demand yous accept a lot longer to aspect at them.  It also takes a piddling fourth dimension to brand it forepart of some of the paintings.

At the end, I felt similar I'd given brusk shrift to some of the paintings fifty-fifty after seeing the exhibition twice.  Some I also wanted to go dorsum too stare some to a greater extent than at - too people are standing too staring for a long fourth dimension inwards this exhibition of paintings yesteryear the human being who perfected the method of ikon via the long hard stare.

If I was a fellow member of the NPG too had non already seen it, I'd go inwards the morning time too withdraw maintain a rattling skilful aspect circular the maiden of all half, withdraw maintain luncheon too and so take in the 2nd half.  Sometimes yous exactly withdraw a intermission to live on able to accept inwards the huge quantity of visual information.

Tip 2: acquire the good guide.  This is i of those exhibitions where you'll acquire a lot of extra value from the explanations yesteryear the curators too the comments from the sitters too his identify unit of measurement too friends

Tip 3:  do sweat too read something most Freud before yous visit.  There are some exhibitions which yous tin see purely for the painting.  There are some which genuinely repay some homework before yous visit.  There are layers too layers inwards this exhibition - too I don't exactly hateful the paint.  I rattling much recommend Martin Gayford's Man with a Blue Scarf: On Sitting for a Portrait yesteryear Lucian Freud every bit i means into agreement the human being himself too how he paints - from the perspective of the sitter.  Another majority which I institute unexpectedly illuminating was Lucian Freud: The Studio the catalogue for the in conclusion exhibition inwards Paris which is at nowadays hard to acquire concord of.  I institute the catalogue produced for this exhibition provided to a greater extent than value if yous already know something most him - it's quite opaque inwards some respects.

This review is rather afterward than I planned.  I usually dislike writing the review the same 24-hour interval every bit seeing a major exhibition only because of the amount of visual data which needs to live on digested.  I detect I withdraw maintain a much clearer ikon demo of it the next 24-hour interval because that's when I detect out which are the images that I tin right away shout out upwards too whether I withdraw maintain a story of the exhibition inwards my head.

However this fourth dimension I decided that I wanted to read the exhibition catalogue maiden of all - which was a skilful thought every bit it turned out - it contains some rattling interesting too unique perspectives yesteryear dissimilar individuals.  I also learned which were the pivotal paintings inwards the exhibition.  Then my identify unit of measurement had a minor hiatus inwards Th involving the arrival of a novel infant which was a tad distracting!

I promise yous liked the 2 videos of Sue Tilley too David Hockney.

So - on with the review [Note: the exhibition includes paintings of naked people.]


All quotations inwards this review are from the catalogue "Lucian Freud Portraits" unless otherwise stated.

A Life inwards Paint

The exhibition is organised over 10 galleries too is broadly speaking chronological.  There's also an awful lot to see!

To laissez passer a sense of its size to those familiar with the gallery, the infinite it occupies unremarkably houses a  'normal' NPG exhibition too a meaning business office of the permanent collection.  The cloakroom has been relegated to the basement, i of the normal entrances has been closed too the elevator is non stopping on this floor!

It contains many (but non all) of his self-portraits.  Sitters represented inwards the exhibition are predominantly identify unit of measurement - peculiarly his mother, 2 wives too daughters, lovers, girlfriends too unopen friends.  There's a peculiarly skilful suite of pictures of his woman raise Lucie - painted after his manly individual raise died.

I've ever thought the ikon yous tin take in below must withdraw maintain been an interesting i to laid up.  It's also a ikon which reflects i of Freud's other interests - creating paintings based on those of yesteryear masters - inwards this example Pierrot Content yesteryear Jean-Antoine Watteau

Large Interior, W11 (After Watteau) (1981-83) by Lucian Freud 
from left to right: his lover the painter Celia Paul, his immature lady Bella Freud,
Suzy Boyt's boy Kai Boyt (not Freud's son) too his ex-lover Suzy Boyt
summation Star, the kid who substituted for the planned inclusion of his grandaughter May

Also included are a arrive at of his extended fine art identify unit of measurement - ranging from artists such as Frank Auerbach, Francis Bacon, Michael Andrews, John Minton too David Hockney to people inside the wider circle such every bit George Dyer who was Francis Bacon's partner too the fine art critic Martin Gayford

Finally at that topographic point are the models who go for him - Leigh Bowery, Nicole Bateman, Sue Tilley - too his friend, studio director too immature human being Canis familiaris lover David Dawson.

If I withdraw maintain i criticism of the hang,  it's that the pivotal paintings - inwards terms of meaning developments inwards his ikon practise are non right away obvious from viewing the exhibition solitary or looking at the images inwards the catalogue.  The summaries on the gallery walls of what's happening are rattling high level.  To my hear it exclusively becomes clearer when reading the essays inside catalogue or listening to all the accounts of pictures inwards the exhibition on the good guide.  Hence my 2 tips above!

The Beginning of the Exhibition

It's rather hard to follow the chronology of the exhibition at the beginning.  When yous enteryou withdraw to start on the correct inwards Corridor 1 which has the early on paintings too self-portraits, a drawing of his rattling skilful friend Francis Bacon too paintings of his maiden of all married adult woman Kitty Garman who he met inwards 1947 too married inwards 1948.  She was the immature lady of the slap-up sculptor Jacob Epstein too his lover Kathleen Garman.  His early on paintings are described every bit beingness detached too objective - but I don't intend he ever stopped beingness either of those.  He exactly stopped beingness overly precise inwards a rattling stylised way.  One of the things I learned every bit a termination of this exhibition is that:

• prints yesteryear Durer used to hang on the wall of his childhood dwelling trouble solid inwards Berlin
• he was characterised every bit The Ingres of Existentialism by art historian Herbert Read inwards 1951

Freud's ikon inwards the 1940s too early on 1950s was characterised yesteryear an unsparing vision too linear approach, which had drawn comparisons with the go of te nineteenth century original Jean-August-Dominique Ingres.  Freud used this to push clit his subjects who oft appeared to live on leading angst-ridden lives.

Paintings of Freud's maiden of all married adult woman Kitty Garman yesteryear Lucian Freud
(left) Girl with a Kitten (1947)
(centre) Girl with Roses (1947-8)
(right) Girl inwards a Dark Jacket (1947)

One of the things which I learned reading the catalogue is he had an early on involvement inwards sculpture thence to me this connectedness with Epstein all of a abrupt seemed to brand to a greater extent than sense.  That was until I institute out that i of Freud's onetime lovers was Lorna Garman, Kitty's aunt!

It is perhaps appropriate at this betoken to say Freud was rattling good known every bit beingness to a greater extent than than a flake of a ladies man.

Part recluse too business office raconteur - with numerous wives, girlfriends too children

I went through the exhibition expecting to detect out to a greater extent than most who the portraits were of too maybe a flake to a greater extent than most the context of when too why they were painted.  In fact, neither the exhibition - which is, inwards essence, a representation of his life and the people inwards it through portraits too ikon - nor the catalogue make much to expand on the diverse relationships.  Consequently I'm non sure I learned much to a greater extent than most his life.  I was left wondering who all the women were too trying to form out who was who with the lovers, wives, daughters, mother, friends too models.  I wondered why, inwards particular, some felt more comfortable or obliged to enshroud their faces.  I left feeling confident I know which were the paintings of his woman raise Lucy, the maiden of all 2 wives too who were some of the paid models but came away knowing rattling piddling most the rest.  I estimate I'm exclusively spotting the absence of comment having previously read books most Freud.

In whatsoever Freud, nosotros are saltation to meet i or to a greater extent than paintings inwards which nosotros halt too inquire 'What exatctly was the human relationship betwixt Freud too the subject?'  It is the minute when nosotros recognise that these paintings are non exclusively most the surface of the body, at that topographic point is something remarkably personal most them, though non easily defined.

It's every bit if knowing who is who too what is what is a privilege exclusively available to those inwards the inner circle - too I was left thinking that maybe fifty-fifty some of the members of that circle are also likely guessing at bits of it.

The other thing which is strange most Freud paintings is the means they are so rattling much most the private too yet to a greater extent than most the means they aspect too less most who they are or the means they feel.  In some he's ikon emotion but to a greater extent than oft it's every bit if he was ikon a nevertheless life - it's the shapes too texture too color too tonality of the peel too the pilus which seems to involvement him.  He paints people similar animals too animals similar people.  One exclusively has to go dorsum too aspect at the early on paintings to know that this is a human being who could sit down too go inwards a rattling controlled means ikon filigrees of pilus too all the fibres inwards a bathrobe.

One powerfulness live on tempted to intend this is all very psychological - given who his granddaddy was - but I don't intend that's necessarily the example at all.  In my sentiment it was exactly that Freud was rattling reserved most sharing all of his life with everybody inwards his life - or anybody else - too was also rattling objective, rattling analytical too rattling precise.

I assemble i of the the rattling practical matters which determined who sat for him were his rattling disciplined habits every bit to his ikon sessions.  He painted almost every 24-hour interval for decades - with 2 primary sessions inwards the morning time too the evening.  His paintings also took forever - too many people declined the pleasance of his society for months on end.

They withdraw to live on punctual, patient too nocturnal.

The maiden of all pivotal ikon includes his 2nd married adult woman Lady Caroline Blackwood.  Hotel Bedroom includes 2 figures - Freud is inwards the background inwards shadow - greyed out - too his married adult woman is lying inwards the foreground - almost every bit if she were somebody on their decease bed.  Her portrayal is significantly dissimilar from the before portraits which introduce a rattling fresh appearance.  It's oft referred to every bit beingness most the breakdown of a marriage.  I genuinely intend it's quite savage - there's something of vampire too victim most it.  It's sure as shooting the example that Lady Caroline was rattling much less than impressed with the means she was portrayed

Hotel Bedroom yesteryear Lucian Freud

This was a ikon which was shown at the Venice Biennale inwards 1954 inwards which Freud, Francis Bacon too Ben Nicholson represented British Art.

After this painting, Freud's ikon changed - because he stood up.

When I stood upwards I never sat downwardly again.

and

My eyes were completely going mad, sitting downwardly too non beingness able to move.  Small brushes too fine canvas.  Sitting downused to drive me to a greater extent than too to a greater extent than agitated.  I felt I wanted to complimentary myself from this means of working.

central department of A Young Painter
yesteryear Lucian Freud

This becomes rattling evident inwards terms of the trend of the paintings. Gone are the sable brushes too the precise delineation of every characteristic too every flake of fibre too inwards come upwards the hogs pilus brushes too to a greater extent than vigorous strokes.

Albeit the transitional catamenia saw the purpose of rattling sparse paint, a rattling washy purpose of oils - characterised yesteryear what seems to live on translucent skin.  This is maiden of all seen inwards "Girl Smiling" a ikon of his lover Suzy Boyt.

From 1990 onwards Freud's obvious enjoyment of flesh too peel is mayhap most obvious inwards the paintings in Galleries VI too VIII which relate respectively to 2 of his most famous models - the Australian functioning creative individual Leigh Bowery (and his married adult woman Nicola Bateman) too Bowery's friend, Sue Tilley (Big Sue) who has worked at the Kingdom of Denmark Street Job Centre for 30+ years.

Leigh Bowery - extract from Nude with Leg Up by Lucian Freud 

Each gallery contains a issue of paintings of the models too I'm guessing this is the maiden of all too exclusively fourth dimension they volition live on seen inwards such proximity.  Certainly the scale of both models emphasises Freud's involvement inwards ikon flesh too skin.

Benefits Supervisor Sleeping by Lucian Freud too the life model Sue Tilley
photo copyright Katherine Tyrrell

Eli too David yesteryear Lucian Freud

"I'm genuinely interested inwards people every bit animals.  Part of my liking to go from them naked is for that reason.  because I tin take in more; too it's also rattling exciting to take in theforms repeating correct through the trunk too oft inwards the caput every bit well.  I similar people to aspect every bit natural too every bit physically at ease every bit animals, every bit Pluto, my whippet"

One of my favourite paintings tin live on seen on the right.  To me it seemed similar a ikon of existent affection for 2 longstanding features of his working life.  That's when it occurred to me that Freud likely had a longer friendship too 24-hour interval to 24-hour interval working human relationship with David Dawson than anybody else inwards his life.  It was rattling plumbing equipment that the halt wall was devoted to paintings of him.

The i aspect which I similar less too empathise to the lowest degree are the huge lumpy encrusted areas inwards some of the belatedly paintings.  I'm non sure I'm whatsoever the wiser having seen the exhibition.  I was completely nonplussed yesteryear the ikon Ria, Naked Portrait 2006-7 inwards the terminal gallery where the confront of the dependent is unrecognisable too completely obliterated yesteryear crusted paint.  One gets the distinct impression of a "falling out of favour".

The exhibition finishes with Freud's in conclusion painting Portrait of the Hound 2011, which is an incomplete (ie it tin never live on finished) ikon of Freud’s assistant David Dawson too his Canis familiaris Eli.

The halt of the exhibition
(Left) Sunny Morning - Eight Legs 1997 yesteryear Lucian Freud includes Freud's whippet Pluto
(right)  Portrait of the Hound 2011 by Lucian Freud includes Dawson's whippet Eli
photo copyright Katherine Tyrrell

Details of the Exhibition

LUCIAN FREUD PORTRAITS From nine Feb until 27 May 2012
National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London WC2H 0HE
TICKETS Admission £14. Concessions £13 / £12 With Gift Aid (includes voluntary Gift Aid donation of 10% inwards a higher identify criterion price): Admission £15.40. Concessions £14.30/£13.20
Supported yesteryear Bank of America Merrill Lynch | Spring Season 2012 Sponsor Herbert Smith

www.npg.org.uk or telephone 0844 248 5033

Loans withdraw maintain been drawn from private collections too museums worldwide including Tate, MOMA New York, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, British Council too Art Institute of Chicago.

Lucian Freud Portraits is curated yesteryear Sarah Howgate, the National Portrait Gallery’s Curator of Contemporary Portraits, whose previous exhibitions include David Hockney Portraits, a retrospective of the artist’s plant at the National Portrait Gallery, London, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston too Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Other Exhibitions

This is an exhibition which volition also locomote to Texas afterward inwards the year.  I loved the quote yesteryear the Chief Curator of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Michael Auping

We withdraw maintain null similar this inwards America. We are the set down of Photoshop too no wrinkles!

• Lucian Freud Portraits volition live on exhibited at Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, United States, from 2 July until 28 Oct 2012
• Other Exhibitions:  Tomorrow  I'll live on publishing a postal service most 2 to a greater extent than exhibitions of go yesteryear or most Lucian Freud inwards London, both of which coincide with the exhibition at the NPG.

Links:

• Lucian Freud - Resources for Art Lovers
• Video: Sue Tilley talks most modelling for Lucian Freud
• David Hockney on sitting for Lucian Freud

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