Lucian Freud

Artist: Lucian Freud 
Author: Martin Gayford 
Publisher: Phaidon
Date: 2018 
Condition: Virtually as new, the two volume linen-bound hardback volumes in the purpose-made slipcase. Some very minor fading to the spines, otherwise very tidy and clean throughout.

This lavish two-volume book is a delight to peruse. The high production values and large scale almost place Freud’s paintings and drawings right in front of the reader. And unless you are feeling especially flush, that is probably the closest most of us will get to a work by Freud.

Yet here you really do feel engaged by the images. Arranged chronologically in decade sections, the text is kept minimal to allow you to concentrate on the images which are beautifully reproduced. This is especially true of the drawings which are, in some cases, not far off actual size. 

Martin Gayford's introduction to each volume is engaging, and coming from someone who knew Lucian well and also sat for him, it contains much to ponder. However, these are both volumes to spend time looking at rather than searching for facts. 

The selection of images, which number well over 400, is extremely wide and informed so whilst you will see many that are familiar from other publications and exhibitions or trips to public galleries, there are many that will be new even to the professionals in the field.