Freud's 'Big Sue' watches as her image sells for record £17 million
THE Camden Town muse of Lucian Freud dubbed 'Big Sue' has seen a naked painting of herself reclining on the sofa sell for a record £17million
THE Camden Town muse of Lucian Freud dubbed 'Big Sue' has seen a naked painting of herself reclining on the sofa sell for a record £17million.
Sue Tilley, a JobCentre worker from Augustus Street, has been thrust into the limelight following the Christie's auction in New York on Tuesday night.
The painting - Benefits Supervisor Sleeping - went under the hammer for $33.6 million - a new record for a work by a living artist. But Big Sue hasn't seen a penny for the deal.
"I'm thrilled the painting sold for so much but I haven't got anything extra out of it," said Ms Tilley, 51.
"I got about £25 for the sitting when Lucian did the painting. And on top of that, he was very nice to me and made me lovely food.
"I remember going to his house in Holland Park and he made me things like rocket and parmesan salad, and sea bass."
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The world's media descended on the JobCentre worker this week, following the sale. But she told the Ham&High: "It's all been a bit tedious really. What I really want out of all this is a bit of glamour."
For more of Big Sue's reaction, see next week's Ham&High.
