What it’s like to have your nude body auctioned for tens of millions
What it’s like to have your nude body auctioned for tens of millions
A Rare Encounter in the Art World
What it s like to have – At the heart of Sotheby’s London gallery, a monumental 200-pound painting is displayed as if it were a towering monument. The artwork, Lucian Freud’s “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” commands the space with its commanding presence, its subject a voluptuous nude whose form seems to ripple with the quiet energy of a sleeping giant. Four men were needed to lift the massive piece onto the gallery wall, and as it settled into place, the room held its breath. Among the spectators—hangers, press members, and curious onlookers—Sue Tilley, the 60-something retired benefits supervisor, stood at the back, her voice breaking through the reverent hush. “I’m here in real life!” she declared, her tone both jolly and unassuming.
For Tilley, the surreal setting is a culmination of years spent in the spotlight as a muse. The painting, set to be auctioned in a sale on 24 June, is estimated to fetch between £25-35 million ($33-45 million), a staggering sum that underscores Freud’s enduring influence. Though she’s aware of the figures, the financial weight of it feels distant. “It feels very weird,” she remarked, sitting across from her own likeness. “I never really got any money.”
The Weight of a Masterpiece
Sotheby’s Europe chairman Olivier Barker described the piece as “the magnum opus of Lucian’s work,” a title that echoes the towering reputation of the artist, who passed away in 2011. The painting’s estimated value, however, is a modest shadow of its actual worth. Tilley, with her wry humor, speculated that her value might reach £100 million. “How shocking is that!” she laughed, her words a blend of disbelief and self-deprecation.
Freud’s work with Tilley began in the 1990s, a period marked by intense creative collaboration. She posed for the iconic artist multiple times, her sessions characterized by a mix of intimacy and intensity. The payment was modest—just a day rate for each session—yet the legacy of those hours has grown exponentially. Two of Freud’s four portraits of Tilley have already set records: “Benefits Supervisor Sleeping” sold for $33.6 million in 2008, and “Benefits Supervisor Resting” reached $56.2 million in 2015, becoming a landmark in art history.
A Journey Through Time and Art
Tilley’s connection to Freud was forged through Leigh Bowery, the Australian performance artist who became a cultural force in London’s avant-garde scene. Bowery, known for his bold style and theatrical flair, introduced the two in the early 2000s. “He made a name for himself as being very outrageous,” Tilley recalled, reflecting on her friend’s larger-than-life persona. “But deep down, he was a very normal person.”
Freud, meanwhile, was captivated by the vibrant energy of London’s underground art scene. “The ticking heart of what was really going on in London at that moment,” Barker explained, encapsulated the artist’s fascination with raw, unfiltered expression. Tilley became a central figure in this world, her appearances in Freud’s works capturing the essence of a time when the boundaries between art and life blurred. The artist’s studio was a place of intense creativity, where Tilley’s presence was both a challenge and a gift.
The Posing Experience
Tilley’s first sessions with Freud were fraught with nerves. As a novice to nude modeling, she was unprepared for the scrutiny of the artist’s gaze. Bowery, ever the provocateur, had prepared her by stripping her clothes off during a practice session, instilling a sense of vulnerability. “He made me feel the fear of God,” she said, recalling the intensity of those early days.
But when she met Freud, the dynamic shifted. “I think that’s why he liked me,” she reflected. “I disobeyed him the whole time.” The artist, known for his meticulous approach, often demanded strict adherence to his vision, yet Tilley’s spontaneity became a defining trait. Their sessions were filled with casual banter, discussions about everything from life’s trivialities to the more profound mysteries of existence. “We chewed the fat on friendly gossip and horse racing,” she said, illustrating the levity that coexisted with the artistic rigor.
Despite the comfort of their rapport, the process was demanding. Tilley arrived at the studio each morning around 7:30 am, greeted with breakfast before the work began. Freud rarely took breaks, his relentless focus pushing her to the edge of exhaustion. The only respite came when the phone rang, signaling a brief moment of pause. “He’d be thrilled,” she noted, “when the phone rang so he could take a breath.”
Even in these moments of rest, the painting continued to exert its influence. Tilley once recounted drifting off during a session, only to dream of Freud granting her a few minutes off. “I’d wake up and rise to my feet before being scolded,” she said, a testament to the artist’s demanding nature. Yet, his flexibility often softened the edge of those sessions. “It worked,” she admitted, the compromise between his vision and her instincts.
Defying the Muse Label
Despite her role as a muse, Tilley has always found the term a bit hollow. “I always think of a wafty kind of girl in love with the artist sniffing smelling salts because she was about to pass out,” she quipped, her laughter a counterpoint to the weight of the label. For her, the title implies a passive role, a mere figure to be admired rather than a woman with her own voice.
Freud’s nudes, including Tilley’s, were painted during an era of extreme thinness. Models like Kate Moss embodied the “heroin chic” aesthetic, a trend that shaped the visual language of the time. Tilley, however, viewed her own portrayal through a different lens. “I hated this parti,” she once said, referring to the aesthetic that defined the period. Her presence in Freud’s work was less about perfection and more about authenticity, a balance that the artist seemingly appreciated.
As the auction approaches, Tilley’s journey from a clubbing companion to a symbol of artistic genius is a story of transformation. Her laughter, her defiance, and her resilience have turned her into a figure of intrigue. While the world marvels at the estimated £25-35 million price tag, Tilley remains grounded, her perspective a reminder that the value of art often lies in the personal connection it fosters.