New Lucian Freud painting goes on view

An important new painting by Lucian Freud, ‘Skewbald Mare, 2004’, has been purchased by the Chatsworth House Trust and is now on view to all visitors at Chatsworth.

The painting, finished earlier this year, is on view to visitors at Chatsworth

The painting was unveiled by the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire on 30th June, before which the 12th Duke spoke about the collection at Chatsworth. After the unveiling, the world famous art critic and writer Robert Hughes spoke about Lucian Freud and the new painting. Read the speech

Lucian Freud at Chatsworth
The 11th Duke of Devonshire began collecting and commissioning work by Lucian Freud after the two men became friends in the late 1940s. The private collection now includes six paintings of members of the family, and a number of other works ranging from an early drawing to Freud’s 2002 painting of four eggs. There is even a private bathroom at Chatsworth with cyclamen painted on a wall by the artist when he was a guest in 1959. Another major Freud work, ‘Large Interior, W9’, owned by the Chatsworth House Trust and normally on view to visitors, is currently in America as part of a large touring exhibition of art from Chatsworth. The 11th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire were seen discussing Freud and his work in the new film about the artist which was shown on BBC1 on Wednesday 9th June.

The new painting at Chatsworth, Skewbald Mare 2004, was shown in the recent exhibition of new work by Freud at the Wallace Collection, which attracted much critical comment in the British and American press. The picture has since been shown at the New York gallery of Freud’s dealer, William Acquavella. The painting will remain on public view for the foreseeable future, until and unless it is lent to exhibitions.

Robert Hughes
Robert Hughes, who spoke about the Freud painting at Chatsworth on 30th June, is one of the most celebrated, eloquent and wide-ranging writers on art and culture in the world today. Art critic for Time magazine for more than 30 years, he has also written many critically acclaimed books, including The Shock of the New, The Fatal Shore, Culture of Complaint, American Visions, and a new biography of Goya. Many of his books have also been the basis of fine television series, and on Saturday 3rd July, ‘The New Shock of the New’, is broadcast on British television. A long- standing admirer of Freud’s work, Hughes has described him as the ‘greatest living realist painter.’

Chatsworth House Trust
The Chatsworth House Trust is a registered charity, established by the 11th Duke of Devonshire in 1981 to ensure the long term future of Chatsworth for the benefit of the public. The house and its essential contents, the garden, farmyard and park are administered by the Trust, which has never accepted grants for the buildings and works of art in its care. All visitor admission income goes to the Trust, which is run by a board of directors.

Over the last 20 years, the Trust has been able to purchase or commission contemporary works of art for display at Chatsworth; recent examples include the War Horse and Walking Madonna, both sculptures by Dame Elisabeth Frink placed in the garden. In an unique marriage of art and equestrianism, the Trust has commissioned a series of outdoor sculptures for the park, that also serve as jumps for the annual international horse trials. Artists in this series include Allen Jones and David Nash.

The Trust has also purchased works of art that have an existing connection to the family, including Gainsborough’s celebrated portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and Lawrence’s portrait of the 6th Duke of Devonshire.