Lucian Freud's monumental portrait *Sleeping by the Lion Carpet* (1995–96) is coming to auction for the first time at Sotheby's London in June, carrying an estimate of £25 million–£35 million ($33 million–$45 million). The eight-foot canvas depicts Sue Tilley, a London social welfare worker who became one of Freud's most celebrated sitters, and is the final and most ambitious of four monumental portraits he painted of her. Art critic Martin Gayford has called it "the most important work that Freud has ever painted."
This sale marks a major moment for the art market, as the work is considered a pinnacle of Freud's oeuvre and has never before been offered at auction. Its high estimate reflects both the enduring demand for Freud's figurative masterpieces and the rarity of such a significant piece entering the market. The auction will be closely watched as a bellwether for the top tier of the post-war and contemporary art market.