Naked Portrait Standing
Print
2001 (printed)
2001 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of a group of 143 state, trial and cancellation proofs of etchings by Lucian Freud (1922-2011) which came from the collection of Marc Balakjian (1938-2017) of Studio Prints. Balakjian was Freud’s printer from 1985 and worked closely with him on the production of his etchings.
The sitter here is recognisably the same figure as seen in the oil painting Naked Portrait Standing, 1999-2001 (private collection; see pl.50 in Button, Lucian Freud, Tate, 2015). The model is Nicola-Rose O'Hara. It is claimed that the figure and her pose were inspired by Freud’s long fascination with Constable’s Study of the Trunk of an Elm Tree.
This is one of only two known impressions. According to Balakjian, Freud lost confidence in the drawing of the figure when he saw a proof, and decided to abandon it. The print was never published and the second proof was later cut into three separate pieces. The plate itself was polished down and the verso later used for his etching of Eli.
The sitter here is recognisably the same figure as seen in the oil painting Naked Portrait Standing, 1999-2001 (private collection; see pl.50 in Button, Lucian Freud, Tate, 2015). The model is Nicola-Rose O'Hara. It is claimed that the figure and her pose were inspired by Freud’s long fascination with Constable’s Study of the Trunk of an Elm Tree.
This is one of only two known impressions. According to Balakjian, Freud lost confidence in the drawing of the figure when he saw a proof, and decided to abandon it. The print was never published and the second proof was later cut into three separate pieces. The plate itself was polished down and the verso later used for his etching of Eli.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Naked Portrait Standing (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Etching on paper |
| Brief description | Lucian Freud: Trial proof of Naked Portrait Standing. Unique impression. 2001. Etching. Printed by Marc Balakjian. |
| Physical description | A naked girl standing with her hands clasped behind her head. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Accepted in lieu of inheritance tax by HM Government in 2019 from the collection of Marc Balakjian and allocated to the V&A |
| Summary | This is one of a group of 143 state, trial and cancellation proofs of etchings by Lucian Freud (1922-2011) which came from the collection of Marc Balakjian (1938-2017) of Studio Prints. Balakjian was Freud’s printer from 1985 and worked closely with him on the production of his etchings. The sitter here is recognisably the same figure as seen in the oil painting Naked Portrait Standing, 1999-2001 (private collection; see pl.50 in Button, Lucian Freud, Tate, 2015). The model is Nicola-Rose O'Hara. It is claimed that the figure and her pose were inspired by Freud’s long fascination with Constable’s Study of the Trunk of an Elm Tree. This is one of only two known impressions. According to Balakjian, Freud lost confidence in the drawing of the figure when he saw a proof, and decided to abandon it. The print was never published and the second proof was later cut into three separate pieces. The plate itself was polished down and the verso later used for his etching of Eli. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.438-2020 |
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| Record created | February 17, 2020 |
| Record URL |
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