Lucian Freud's monumental nude painting "Sleeping by the Lion Carpet" (1995–96) is heading to auction at Sotheby's in London on June 24, with an estimate of up to £35 million (~$47 million). The over-seven-foot-tall work depicts model Sue Tilley, who met Freud through performance artist Leigh Bowery, and is the last in a series of four monumental portraits of Tilley in resting postures. The painting was purchased directly from Freud by collector Joe Lewis via dealer Bill Acquavella, and will be exhibited at Sotheby's Bond Street Galleries from June 10–23 alongside works by Degas, Matisse, and Klimt.
This auction matters because it represents a defining work from Freud's celebrated series of unflinching nudes, which have influenced contemporary artists like Jenny Saville and Marlene Dumas. The painting's estimated price reflects the enduring strength of the market for major figurative works, following the $33.6 million sale of Freud's "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping" at Christie's in 2008. The sale also highlights the personal story of Tilley, whose life was transformed by her collaboration with Freud, and underscores the continued demand for top-tier postwar British art.