A portrait of former benefits supervisor Sue Tilley by artist Lucian Freud could sell for as much as £35 million [1].

The upcoming sale of “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet” [1] highlights the enduring market value of Freud's work and the cultural legacy of his most famous muses.

Sotheby’s is offering the piece in London as part of The Lewis Collection [1]. The auction is scheduled for June 2024 [2]. The painting is one of several significant works by Freud that have captured the attention of global collectors due to their raw, unflinching depiction of the human form.

Tilley, the subject of the painting, has spoken candidly about her experience being painted by the artist. She noted the specific way Freud rendered her image, saying, "Lucian made me look like a great fat frog" [3]. Despite the bluntness of the depiction, Tilley has embraced the role of the muse and the visibility the artwork provides.

The potential price tag of £35 million [1] underscores the high demand for Freud's late-period portraits. Tilley views the high valuation as a statement on the visibility and value of different body types in art. Regarding the auction and the painting's worth, Tilley said, "Big girls can do well" [1].

The Lewis Collection sale is expected to be a focal point for the London art market this June [2]. It brings together works that emphasize Freud's obsession with flesh, and the psychological depth of his subjects. The painting's transition from a private collection to the public market allows for a new valuation of Tilley's likeness in the context of modern art history.

““Big girls can do well.””

The potential sale price reflects a broader trend in the art market where 'unidealized' portraits of the human body are increasingly valued as psychological studies rather than mere representations. By framing the auction as a victory for 'big girls,' Tilley shifts the narrative from the artist's gaze to the subject's own agency and economic value.