Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

danrimage — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:21:34 GMT

Uh, so the comparison to the Gisele Bundchen photos was just arbitrary then? And I was actually more taken aback by your seemingly bemused reaction at the (admittedly staggering) price of a famous painting by a living name artist, when you yourself should have more than a passing knowledge of art market shenanigans than most.

Anyway, re-reading what I wrote, perhaps the tone was more snippy and aghast than intended.

Oh and one more thing: replies from all three regular 'Scanners'? I feel humbled....and I'm genuinely touched by your community spirit and willingness to leap to the defence of a member of your little family over there....

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

Brian Fairbanks — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:22:48 GMT

I'm with Bryan on this one. I didn't get that all reading this, nor is there any hint of that kind of tone when re-reading it.

However, I'm tempted to make a joke at my own expense ("no, guys, that's something I would say," etc.)...

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

Emily Farris — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:18:37 GMT

And she _is_ fat.

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

Emily Farris — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:18:26 GMT

He has been covering the auction beat, guys.

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

Bryan Christian — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:15:44 GMT

Dude, people, seriously: if I'd wanted to say "that painting's model is too fat to warrant so much money" I would have just said that. But I don't think that, and I didn't write it. Seriously, show me where I say that here and I'll write you a check for kiss-my-ass amount of dollars.

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

greatgatsby1 — Wed, 14 May 2008 19:43:33 GMT

Gimme a break, Bryan. This post is TOTALLY about how not-hot the model is. Which is fine, but don't pretend you're just posting about the outrageous art market. (What's next, your posting about the skyrocketing costs of the rice and corn market?) Just own up, buddy.

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

Bryan Christian — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:07:51 GMT

Actually, I don't think I said anything about a "naked fat bird" or the content of the painting at all, just that it was X price which was equal to Y Gisele photos, and then joked that art prices are crazy. But thanks for projecting!

re: Lucien Freud Nude Sets Record Auction Price For Living Artist: $33M

danrimage — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:22:41 GMT

You're the Bry(i)an who's NOT a Phillistine, right? Art market prices have been out of control for almost a century....the fact that it's a justifiably-reknowned, near-legendary figure like Freud that's getting it for what I (and apparently many others) consider to be a powerful, genuinely erotic and very beautiful portrait makes me glad.

GLAD, I tells ya....at least rich assholes spending astronomical sums on culture is better than about a billion other things they COULD be spending it on. This was front-page news in all the London tabloids a few weeks back. Granted, the tone was similarly 'What kind of nutter want to spend that kind of money to see a naked fat bird?' but at least it brings art to peoples' attention.