London (AFP)
A portrait of British painter David Hockney by his counterpart Lucian Freud was auctioned on Tuesday for £ 14.9million (€ 17.3million) in London, the Sotheby's auction house announced.
This amount exceeds estimates, between £ 8 million and £ 12 million, for this painting which had not been exhibited to the public since the 2012 Freud exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in the British capital.
David Hockney, one of the world's most cherished living artists, appears slightly frowning, gazing over thin glasses, "deep in thought, revealing his warmth and curiosity," according to Sotheby's.
The painting was produced in the spring and summer of 2002 during a meeting between these two "titans" of British art, according to Sotheby's.
Freud, who died in 2011, was then almost 80 years old, Hockney was 65 years old.
Hundreds of hours of exposure and work have thus given rise to "one of the most masterful peer-to-peer portraits ever made on a canvas", underlines the auction house.
During these sessions, the two friends chatted, talking about art over a cup of tea.
Freud had allowed Hockney to smoke, on condition that he didn't tell Kate Moss, as the painter refused to allow the fashion star such freedom when she posed for him.
“It was a memorable and enjoyable experience,” said David Hockney, “I found his portrayal very successful - all the hours I spent sitting lay on top of it; he always added, rarely took something away. It really shows ".
According to Sotheby's, which has not disclosed the identity of the buyer, the painting was disputed by "five determined collectors", who bid by telephone through representatives of the auction house in New York, London. and in Asia.
The painting is the latest in a series of portraits of famous people made by Lucian Freud, who among others painted Queen Elizabeth II.
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