Posted on 02/09/2005 6:58:33 PM PST by Drew68
Wed Feb 9, 4:47 PM ET
LONDON - Lucian Freud's painting of a naked and pregnant Kate Moss was sold at auction Wednesday for $7.29 million, and another Freud painting went for even more a record for the artist.
Christie's auction house said an anonymous telephone bidder bought the picture of the model, "Naked Portrait 2002," the centerpiece of its sale of postwar and contemporary art, for slightly more than its pre-sale estimate.
Another Freud painting, "Red Haired Man on a Chair," sold for $7.71 million, a record price for the artist at auction.
About 600 people packed the Christie's salesroom and spilled into an adjoining room, where some watched the fierce bidding on a television screen.
Sold by an anonymous private collector, the Moss picture shows the model pregnant with daughter Lila Grace, who is now 2.
"We are delighted with the results of the sale of the two works by Freud, painted exactly 40 years apart," said Christie's spokeswoman Catherine Manson. "They are stunning and highly sought-after."
Freud, 82, is considered one of Britain's greatest living artists, and is known for vast, mottled nudes of his friends and acquaintances. A grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, he has also painted a fully clad Queen Elizabeth II.
Christie's said the near life-size portrait of a reclining Moss "is very rare in Freud's oeuvre for being one of only a few portraits the artist has painted of well-known or famous people."
Kinda reminds me of Kramer's portrait except it's nude and it's Kate Moss.
But the portrait of Kramer looked like Kramer. This doesn't look like Kate Moss, IMO.
BTW, why is her crotch the center of the painting?
I have this feeling that I should know who Kate Moss is, but I don't.
Proves some people's taste is limited to their mouths.
WTH is Kate Moss?
I have to say a pretty lousy painting.
I can't say it's very flattering. I suspect she bought it herself so she can burn it.
British supermodel.
I can't even see any of the velvet through the paint.
I've seen photos of the Kate Moss painting before and kinda liked it. But I didn't like it enough to pay seven million for it.
In fact, I think it's obscene to spend that much money on a picture.
A famous British model during the "heroin chic" days of the early 1990s.
I don't think it's an accurate painting. There's too much flesh. Kate Moss is a waif.
It's not flattering, or well done.
I think I could do better painting it - at least if Bob Ross was painting along with me. ;~D
Kate Moss was an extremely emaciated supermodel of five or so years ago.
I could be wrong with the timing as I don't keep up much with the fashion business.
Damn. Imagine how much a nekkid picture of Britney Spears would go for!?!!
That CAN'T be Kate Moss !
SHE's WAY TO FAT ! ;-)
that's where the baby comes out. didn't you see the movie?
I could see Kate and I could darn sure see her moss.
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