An ambitious exhibition of portraits by Lucian Freud, who died in July last year, will open at the National Portrait Gallery in London on 9th February. The paintings, drawing and etchings on display will span a period of more than 70 years, and will feature over 100 works from museums and private collectors, some of which are to be publicly exhibited for the first time.

Freud painted only from life, and sometimes over many months and years. He said, “I could never put anything into a picture that wasn’t actually there in front of me… Everything is autobiographical and everything is a portrait, even if it’s only a chair.” His years of devotion to painting resulted in work of an unmatched integrity and emotional intensity.

Lucian Freud: Portraits is to be a countdown event for the London 2012 Festival and the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad.

The Exhibition
National Portrait Gallery