Many artists are great art collectors themselves and it is in rare occasions that we get to publicly seeing this side of their lives. Lucian Freud, who was considered to be Britain’s greatest living artist before his death in 2011 at the age of 88, was a colorful character and art collector owning works by 19th century artists such as Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Edgar Degas. Upon his death, Freud bequeathed works from his collection to the nation, so we will have the chance to view the art works this artist chose to surround himself with.
“The Italian Woman, or Woman with a Yellow Sleeve” (circa 1870) by Corot is left to the National Gallery, and here we see a photo of Nick Penny, director of the NG, in Freud’s home looking at the painting with Freud himself.
Nick Penny views the Corot portrait in Lucian Freud’s house in 2008, photographed by David Dawson
Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, “The Italian Woman, or Woman with a Yellow Sleeve” circa 1870
oil on canvas
This photo taken by Freud’s assistant David Dawson in 2008 shows that the museum has had an interest in the painting for some time. Freud bought the portrait at Christie’s New York in 2001 for a record $2.86million, four times its estimate. It was once owned by Edward G Robinson. Another version of the painting is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York. Reports say that the portrait has been valued at £5million but the Arts Council said it has been acquired to satisfy £2.34million of inheritance tax, along with three bronze sculptures by Degas: Horse Galloping on Right Foot; La Masseuse (The Masseuse); and Portrait of a Woman: Head Resting on One Hand. The Degas sculptures are temporarily located at the Courtauld Gallery.
Edgar Degas, “The Masseuse”
