Sotheby's will auction Lucian Freud's monumental painting *Sleeping by the Lion Carpet* (1995–96) for the first time this June in London, as part of the Joe Lewis collection sale. The work, depicting sitter Sue Tilley, carries an estimate of £25–35 million ($34–47 million) and is the last of four canvases from Freud's "Benefits Supervisor" series. The 51-lot collection, which also includes works by Gustav Klimt, Amedeo Modigliani, and Francis Bacon, is expected to exceed £150 million ($202 million) in total.
The sale matters because it represents a rare opportunity to acquire a major Freud portrait from his most celebrated series, with the artist's market buoyed by limited supply and high demand. Freud's auction record stands at $86 million, set in 2022, and previous Tilley canvases have achieved top prices. The consignment from billionaire Joe Lewis, who began collecting Freud in the 1990s, also highlights the enduring appeal of figurative painting at the highest tier of the art market.