Lucian Freud's 'Sleeping by the Lion Carpet' Estimated at $47M at Sotheby's

Lucian Freud's monumental nude painting 'Sleeping by the Lion Carpet' (1995–96) is expected to fetch up to £35 million (~$47 million) at Sotheby's London on June 24. The work depicts model Sue Tilley, whom Freud met through Leigh Bowery. It is the last in a series of four large-scale portraits of Tilley and follows 'Benefits Supervisor Sleeping,' which sold for $33.6 million at Christie's in 2008. The painting was purchased directly from Freud's dealer Bill Acquavella by collector Joe Lewis. It will be on view at Sotheby's Bond Street Galleries from June 10 to June 23. Tilley, now 69, described the experience as life-changing. The auction also includes works by Degas, Matisse, and Klimt.