Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family

In the centenary year of British painter Lucian Freud (1922-2011), the Freud Museum stages its first ever exhibition of the great artist’s work.

Lucian (left) with his father Ernst Freud and brothers Clement and Stephen Gabriel, c. 1930. © The Lucian Freud Archive. All Rights Reserved 2022 / Bridgeman Images. Collection of the Freud Museum London

Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family is the first exhibition of Lucian Freud’s work in the home of his grandfather, Sigmund Freud, and aunt, Anna Freud. The exhibition features paintings, drawings, family photographs, books and letters. These works are drawn from galleries and private collections, the Museum’s archives and members of Lucian Freud’s family. Some of the items have never, or very rarely, been seen in public before.

Lucian Freud’s impact and influence on cultural history is undeniable. Like his grandfather, Sigmund, who revolutionised the way we understand the mind, Lucian affected the history of 20^th century art. Migrating from surrealism to realism and often using family and friends as his subjects, Lucian’s work’s evolved over a 60-year career.

Palm Tree (1944) by Lucian Freud, gifted to his aunt Anna. © The Lucian Freud Archive. All Rights Reserved 2022 / Bridgeman Images. Collection of the Freud Museum London

The exhibition explores Lucian Freud’s childhood, family and friends. It celebrates some lesser known aspects of his life. These include his love of reading and lifelong fascination with horses, as well as his relationships with the former occupants of 20 Maresfield Gardens. Alongside Lucian Freud’s paintings and drawings, the exhibition includes illustrated childhood letters, books he owned and book covers he designed. His sole surviving sculpture, Three-legged Horse (1937) and early painting, Palm Tree (1944), is also be displayed.

The exhibition is accompanied by a vibrant programme of public events. An outreach programme includes specially constructed exhibition visits and art workshops for families and groups in the local community.

Curated by Martin Gayford

 Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family is curated by Martin Gayford, art critic for The Spectator and the author of acclaimed books on Lucian Freud, Van Gogh, Constable, David Hockney and Michelangelo.

In 2003-2005, Freud painted Martin Gayford’s portrait. His subsequent wrote a book about the experience of sitting for Freud, Man with a Blue Scarf: on Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud (Thames and Hudson, 2010). Martin is currently editing Lucian Freud’s letters for a book to be published by Thames and Hudson in 2022.

Letter and drawing from Lucian Freud to his father Ernst Freud, undated (early 1930s).© The Lucian Freud Archive. All Rights Reserved 2022 / Bridgeman Images. Collection of the Freud Museum London

Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family Press Coverage

★★★★ Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family: a tiny but delightfully domestic show. Its eye more on biography as opposed just the arts, the Freud Museum’s latest is a last hurrah for the gossipy school of art history – The Telegraph

Lucian Freud: The Painter and His Family review – a ‘delightfully domestic’ show. This is ‘a must’ for anyone intrigued by Freud’s ‘storied life’ – The Week

Lucian Freud: Family Matters at Freud Museum London – Londontopia

Lucian Freud: Complex family relationships explored at Freud Museum – Ham&High

Lucian Freud’s crayon period: childhood drawings reveal his early artistic promise. A new exhibition showcases some early works by the renowned painter – The Jewish Chronicle

Lucian Freud exhibition featured on Front Row – BBC Radio 4

Events - Lucian Freud: The Painter and his Family

22 July – Drawing Plants at the Freud Museum with Fay Ballard, a drawing class held in-house at the Freud Museum.

6 October – Love Lucian: The letters and early life of Lucian Freud with Hannah Rothschild and Martin Gayford in conversation.

24 November – Lucian Lates: Playing Up – artist interventions, performances and films. In-house event.

1 December – Lucian Lates: Bella and Esther Freud in conversation with Cerith Wyn Evans. In-house event.

12 December – Lucian Lates: Museum Pub Quiz. In-house event.