Lucian Freud

by Lawrence Gowing, David Dawson (Foreword)

"One of the best books ever written by one painter about another." ― John Russell, The New York Times

First published in 1982, Lawrence Gowing's Lucian Freud is an intimate portrayal of one of the twentieth century's most exceptional artists. At once a pivotal narrative, a furtive autobiography, and a profound exploration of what it means to think through paint, this book represents a historically significant collaboration between two of modern art's brightest minds.

Drawing on forty years of friendship―as well as his own painterly intuition―Gowing's commentary pushes language to the very edge of meaning, evoking the richness of Freud's art with poetic incisiveness as he locates, within the paint itself, "a coiled vigilance and . . . a serpentine litheness in the ready, rapid way in which an object was confronted."

Freud's deep involvement in the original book offers rare insight into the artist as he was in the 1980s. The conversations and questions that shape Gowing's text produced some of Freud's most memorable and widely quoted reflections, while Freud's choice and grouping of paintings and drawings reveal unexpected connections across his works, as seen through his eyes.

Completely redesigned and reissued after many years out of print, this book remains a landmark publication on Lucian Freud.

131 illustrations

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Sir Lawrence Gowing (April 21, 1918 - February 05, 1991) was an English artist, writer, curator, and teacher.

Initially recognized as a portrait and landscape painter, he quickly rose to prominence as an art educator, writer, and, eventually, curator and museum trustee. As a student of art history he was largely self-taught.

Sir Lawrence was born Lawrence Burnett Gowing to Horace Gowing, a draper, and his wife, Luisa. Born in Stoke Newington and raised in London, his first painting of note, Mare Street, Hackney, made reference to his father's shop. After attending the Downs School at Colwall, Herefordshire and Leighton Park School, in 1938 he enrolled in the Euston Road School, where he studied with William Coldstream.

He was Principal of the Slade School of Fine Art at University College, London from 1975 to 1985.

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of his works, this book was published in the early 80s. The narrative by Lawrence Gowing is pretty florid and over written, but I persisted because I actually found it funny it was so pretentious in places. One gem which I loved and I think very revealing about Freud is that he doesn't like Gowing and for this reason chose him to write this book.

[Kamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was so over the top saying very little but the works of Lucian Freud are brilliant so 3 stars…