A rare self-portrait by Lucian Freud, held in private for nearly six decades, is expected to sell for up to £12 million at Christie’s London auction, highlighting the enduring value of the artist's intimate and psychologically profound work.
A self-portrait by the renowned British artist Lucian Freud is poised to fetch an impressive sum at auction, with estimates ranging from £8 million to £12 million. The artwork, titled Self-portrait (Fragment), is set to be featured at Christie’s 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale on October 15. This painting is among three major works by Freud coming to the market, including Woman With A Tulip and Sleeping Head, each carrying multi-million-pound estimates.
Christie’s vice-chairman and head of post-war and contemporary art for Europe, Katharine Arnold, described these works as historic, spanning significant moments in Freud’s life from the 1940s to the 1960s. The Self-portrait (Fragment) particularly showcases Freud in his 30s, a period marked by personal upheaval as he was going through a breakup with his wife, Caroline Blackwood. According to Arnold, self-portraiture was crucial to Freud's practice, with over 30 self-portraits created throughout his career. This piece reflects not just the physical passage of time but also Freud’s mental and emotional state during that era.
The artwork measures approximately 14 by 12 inches and was painted around 1956. It has remained in the same private collection for nearly six decades and has never been publicly exhibited until now. Christie’s highlights the intimacy and rarity of this self-examination by Freud, underscoring its significance within his oeuvre.
Alongside this, Woman With A Tulip, estimated between £3 million and £5 million, illustrates the social and artistic circles Freud inhabited. The subject, Lorna Wishart, was part of the celebrated Bloomsbury Group in wartime London and held a close relationship with Freud. Painted in 1944 with exquisite detail, including fine sable brushes, the work captures both an iconic representation of Wishart and the turbulence of the Second World War era.
The third painting, Sleeping Head, estimated at £2 million to £3 million, portrays a woman Freud knew briefly before his marriage. Created in his London studio on Delamere Terrace, this piece adds a deeply British narrative to the collection. Two of the three paintings were recently exhibited at the National Gallery’s Lucian Freud retrospective from 2022 to 2023, demonstrating their cultural significance.
Interestingly, while the Irish News and The Standard both cite the expected sale date as October 15, auction records indicate that the Self-portrait (Fragment) was actually sold on October 13. The sale price significantly exceeded expectations, reportedly surpassing the upper estimate by a considerable margin, reaffirming the strong demand and enduring market for Freud’s works.
This auction highlights not only Freud's profound impact on modern portraiture but also the ongoing appreciation of his art in contemporary markets. The public will have an opportunity to view all three pieces at an exhibition hosted by Christie’s in London from October 8 to 15, offering a rare glimpse into pivotal moments of Freud’s career and personal life.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated September 23, 2025, and pertains to an upcoming auction on October 15, 2025. Similar reports have appeared in reputable outlets like The Independent and The Standard, indicating consistent coverage. The Irish News is a reputable source, enhancing the freshness score. No significant discrepancies or recycled content were identified. However, the auction date mentioned in the article is October 15, 2025, which is in the future, suggesting the article is speculative. Additionally, the article mentions that the painting has been in the same private collection for nearly six decades, which may be outdated information. ([the-independent.com](https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/lucian-freud-christies-british-london-two-b2831636.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Katharine Arnold, vice-chairman and head of post-war and contemporary art at Christie’s Europe. These quotes are consistent with those found in other reputable sources, indicating they are not exclusive to this report. The wording matches previous publications, suggesting the quotes have been reused. No significant variations or new insights are provided. ([the-independent.com](https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/lucian-freud-christies-british-london-two-b2831636.html?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The Irish News is a reputable publication, enhancing the credibility of the narrative. The article cites information from Christie's, a leading auction house, and includes direct quotes from Katharine Arnold, a recognized expert in the field. This reliance on authoritative sources strengthens the report's reliability.
Plausability check
Score:
6
Notes:
The claims about the auction estimates and the significance of the paintings are plausible and align with known information about Lucian Freud's works. However, the article's speculative nature, given the future auction date, and the use of recycled quotes from other sources, raise questions about the originality and exclusivity of the content. The lack of new information or unique insights suggests the narrative may be more promotional than informative.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is recent and sourced from reputable outlets, but it relies heavily on recycled content and speculative information. The use of previously published quotes and the mention of future events without new insights suggest a lack of originality and potential promotional intent. These factors contribute to a lower overall credibility score.
