Lucian Freud c. 1943. Photographed by Ian Gibson Smith.
The young Lucian Freud was described by his friend Stephen Spender as ‘totally alive, like something not entirely human, a leprechaun, a changeling child, or, if there is a male opposite, a witch.’ All that magnetism and brilliance is displayed in his letters.
From schoolboy messages to his parents, through letters to friends, lovers and confidantes, to correspondence as he became established as a professional painter, these letters are peppered with wit, affection and irreverence. Collectively they provide a powerful insight into his early life and art.
In this talk, Martin Gayford, art critic, friend of the artist and co-author with David Dawson of this first published collection of Freud’s correspondence, discusses how this compilation came about and how the letters are linked by a narrative that weaves them into the story of his life and relationships through his formative first three decades.
Love Lucian: The Letters of Lucian Freud, 1939-1954 by David Dawson and Martin Gayford is published (29 September, 2022) by Thames & Hudson. Ticket holders will receive a code to use online for 25% off the retail price via their website.
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This is an online event hosted on Zoom which can be watched live, or on-demand for three weeks afterwards. You will receive your link to access the event in your email confirmation and the on-demand link after the event ends.