Arts News
Nude Portrait of Kate Moss Goes Under the Hammer
By James Wray Feb 4, 2005, 22:41 GMT
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The potrait was painted by Lucian Freud in 2002 |
The portrait of the supermodel, painted while she was pregnant, is by the artist Lucian Freud and is expected to sell for more than $6 million.
Christie’s in London unveiled the portrait publicly for the first in anticipation of the auction. The painting, titled "Naked Portrait 2002" is near life size measuring 152.7 x 122.2cm.
Freud's decision to paint the supermodel was indirectly prompted by Kate Moss herself. In an article reproduced in the style magazine Dazed and Confused Moss revealed that one of her remaining unfulfilled ambitions was to pose for Freud.
Unexpectedly, Freud seems to have seen the article and been prompted to arrange a sitting. Moss, who had explained in the article that she was aware of how slowly Freud worked, and was unconcerned how long such a 'modeling job’, would take.
Moss was pregnant when the sittings for the portrait began. Because of this Freud began the painting from her slightly pregnant stomach so as to fix it in paint before it grew further.
Having been bought almost immediately after it was complete by a private collector; the painting will be auctioned on February 9 at Christie’s Post War and Contemporary Art sale.
The model herself is seen as a potential bidder.
