Early portrait denied by Lucian Freud shown for first time after authentication
Summary
An early portrait by British artist Lucian Freud, called Man in a Black Scarf and painted in 1939, has been confirmed as his work after years of denial. The painting will be shown to the public for the first time in an exhibition at the Garden Museum in London.Key Facts
- Man in a Black Scarf was painted by Lucian Freud when he was a student in 1939.
- Freud denied painting the portrait while he was alive, causing confusion about its authenticity.
- The sitter in the portrait is believed to be John Jameson, a friend of Freud’s from the whiskey family.
- Art historian Philip Mould suggested in 2016 that the painting was likely by Freud on the BBC show Fake or Fortune.
- New evidence from school records at Tate Britain proved Freud painted Jameson in 1939.
- The portrait will be displayed in the Benton End: A Paradise of Pollen and Paint exhibition at the Garden Museum from June to September 2026.
- The painting style shows influence from Cedric Morris, a teacher at Freud’s art school.
- Freud’s other works are highly valuable, with one selling for $56 million in 2015.
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