The eldest son of the renowned artist Lucian Freud is facing claims that he has sold another artist’s work as his own for a small fortune.
Paul McAdam Freud sold Reading Woman, a portrait of two nude women, at a London gallery for what is believed to be a six-figure sum.
But one of his former friends, Philip Firsov, claims that he painted the original portrait, which Freud then painted over and turned into a new work.
It led to a dramatic showdown in London earlier this month when Firsov angrily confronted Freud at a frieze art party in Camden.
Firsov told The Mail on Sunday that he said to Freud: ‘Well, did you sell it?’ After Freud allegedly replied ‘yes’, Firsov asked: ‘Well, how much did you sell it for?’
Lucian Freud (pictured)’s eldest son is facing claims he sold another artist’s work as his own for a small fortune
CHANGES: Philip Firsov’s original work Reading Woman (left) and Lucian Freud’s new painting with added details (right)
Freud’s response, according to Firsov, was a curt ‘f*** off’.
Last night Firsov told The Mail on Sunday: ‘He’s selling it as his own and not sharing the profits, which is wrong.
‘He covered their skin and the background with a layer of paint and put thick lumps of paint in the background to make it his own.’
Firsov claims he painted the original artwork in 2010 and stored it at Druid Cycles, a bicycle shop in South-East London, where he painted murals and displayed his work at the time.
Firsov claims this is where Freud discovered the artwork and decided to ‘rescue’ it. Firsov alleges that Freud admitted to this nine years ago when he saw a Facebook post of Paul Freud which showed a portrait of the two nude women, which he claims bears a resemblance to his painting.
In an exchange on Facebook messenger, Firsov told Freud: ‘My dear Paul!!! I am quite sure that is my painting you have just worked on top of!!!! Where did you get it from?’
Freud replied: ‘Thor [the owner of Druid Cycles] was going to throw it out. It had suffered mould and some damage…
‘I could tell the hand of a master was involved. I had a very strong feeling we would be working together now I realise that we already are. Life and paint.’
Paul was omitted from his father’s £96 million fortune following a dispute in the High Court. Paul McAdam Freud is legally accepted, but not proven, to be Freud’s first son from a relationship with Katherine McAdam in the 1950s.
Two years ago, Paul was reportedly involved in a punch-up with his brother, Alex Boyt (Freud’s only son with Suzy Boyt) over the funeral plans of their sister, Jane McAdam Freud.
He declined to comment last night.
