Lucian Freud (1922-2011), the grandson of the famous psychotherapist Sigmund Freud, was born in Germany, and spent most of his career in London. His principle interest was the human form, both faces and nudes, which he rendered in muted tones and impasto brushwork. Nevertheless, nature and cityscapes are also both popular motifs in his work. In the 1950s, at a time when abstraction pervaded the artistic scene, Freud was a rarity as a figurative artist. He is associated with the Neo-
Romanticism movement, though he experimented with Surrealism. His models were often those he with whom he had close relationships, often his family members. From the 1980s, he painting compositions grew increasingly large and complex. He was also a reputable draughtsman.