LUCIAN FREUD AT NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
February 09 - May 27
| When | February 9 - May 27, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Time | Daily 10-18 |
| Cost | GBP 14 |
| Where | National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place; London WC2H 0HE |
| Neighbourhood | Covent Garden |
| Tube | Charing Cross [Bakerloo, Northern] |
| Telephone | +44 20 7312 2463 |
| Website | http://www.npg.org.uk/freudsite/ |
Models for Lucian Freud’s paintings needed to have two things: patience and a clear diary. The relationship between artist and subject was so important to Freud that he demanded the sitter be present at almost every stage of his meticulous work, which could take up to 2,400 hours to complete.
The results of this intense scrutiny (and no doubt even more intense pins and needles for the poor models) are the unmistakable, penetrating paintings on display in this retrospective of the artist’s portraiture at the National Portrait Gallery. Freud’s paintings exude drama and command attention, none more so than Reflection, the artist’s confrontingly honest 1985 self-portrait.
It’s a fitting tribute to Freud, who died in 2011. The artist took up to 16 months of solid work to get to know his subjects so that you can look right inside them at a glance.
