“Three Studies of Lucian Freud”, one of the most iconic painting by Irish-born painter Francis Bacon became the most expensive piece of artwork to be sold at an auction in New York on November 12, 2013. The triptych by the artist was auctioned by Christie Auction House and was sold for record-breaking $142,405,000 after 6 minutes of intense bidding in the room and on the phone. A New York dealer, William Acquavella is believed to have bought the painting on account of an anonymous client. Recognized as one the most important works of the artist, the painting was created by Bacon in 1969 which shows another German-born British painter and a friend of Francis, Lucian Freud sitting on a wooden chair in different positions. It is considered as the greatest masterpiece of the artist painted at the time of his friendship with Lucian at prime.
“Three Studies of Lucian Freud” sold for more than $85 million than Christie’s has expected and also broke the previous record for an artwork sold at an auction which was held by “The Scream,” painted by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch in 1895. According to Christie auction house, the painting was a part of a record-smashing auction that fetched $691,583,000 where 10 auction records were broken and three paintings went for more than $50 million.
