Reproductions of the young Lucian Freud's letters alongside
insightful context and commentary reveal the foundations of the
artist's personality and creative practice. The young Lucian Freud
was described by his friend Stephen Spender as 'totally alive, like
something not entirely human, a leprechaun, a changeling child, or,
if there is a male opposite, a witch.' All that magnetism and
brilliance is displayed in the letters assembled here. Ranging from
schoolboy messages to his parents, through letters and
carefully-chosen, often embellished postcards to friends, lovers
and confidants, to correspondence with patrons and associates. They
are peppered with wit, affection and irreverence. Alongside rarely
seen photographs and Freud's extraordinary works, each chapter
charts Freud's evolving art alongside intimate accounts of his
life. We trace Freud's early friendships with Stephen Spender, John
Craxton, his wild days at art school in East Anglia, and a stint as
a merchant seaman. Among the highlights are Freud's accounts of his
first trip to Paris in 1946 and encounters with Picasso, Alexander
Calder and Giacometti (who, he thought, looked like Harpo Marx).
Equally revealing are letters to and from his first love, Lorna
Wishart and second wife, Caroline Blackwood. Among his friends and
confidantes were Sonia Orwell and Ann Fleming: remarkable, hitherto
unknown letters to both of whom are included. To Ann Fleming he
wrote a richly-comic, six-page description of a high society fancy
dress ball which took place at Biarritz in 1953. He also went to
stay with Ann and her husband Ian in their house in Jamaica,
Goldeneye. From there, he sent a stream of letters, plus a telegram
to his colleagues at the Slade School of Fine Art (where he was
supposed to be teaching): "PLEASE SEND TEN SHEETS GREY GREEN INGRES
PAPER". The volume ends in early 1954 with his inclusion at the age
of 31, as one of the artists representing Britain at the Venice
Biennale - the high point of his early career. Co-authored by David
Dawson and Martin Gayford, this is the first published collection
of Freud's correspondence, many brought to light for the first
time. Reproduced in facsimile alongside reproductions of Freud's
artwork, the letters are linked by a narrative that weaves them
into the story of his life and relationships through his formative
first three decades. Collectively, they provide a powerful insight
into his early life and art.
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