Joe Lewis's Freud Portrait of 'Big Sue' Heads to Sotheby's

Sotheby's will present Lucian Freud's Sleeping by the Lion Carpet from the family collection of billionaire Joe Lewis. The painting depicts Sue Tilley, also known as "Big Sue", one of Freud's most celebrated models.

The painting has a low estimate of $33m and is one of 50 works consigned to single-collection sales that could fetch $200m in total.

The painting will be a central feature of The Lewis Collection: Exhibition and Sale, with the exhibition taking place at Sotheby's New Bond Street Galleries.

Sleeping by the Lion Carpet was shown at London's National Gallery in its 2022 exhibition Lucian Freud: New Perspectives.

Sotheby's exhibition will open on June 10, through June 23, and the Lewis sales are due to take place June 24 and 25.