1990 - Freud creates Painting Of Leigh Bowery (Seated)

Painting Of Leigh Bowery (Seated) was begun and completed in 1990, and upon the work’s completion, it wouldn’t be shown publicly until 2002 at the Tate Britain. Freud’s work to follow with Bowery would be similarly powerful, with angles such as a worm’s eye view and styles like honest charcoal. This painting is different from the rest of these works. Where Bowerys other depictions have him facing away from the viewer, simply an observation by them, this painting has him staring directly at you. His forehead has deep wrinkles, and there are bags beneath his eyes. The skin of his stomach and sides is naturally framing his seated position, angled up the sides of the red chair he is seated on. One can truly see how his nude form sat in the chair, how his back and sides moved up with his downward motion. A leg is draped over the left arm, while the other rests its foot on the hardwood floor. His right hand is beneath his right leg, tucked against the warmth of his massive thigh. His left arm rests on the back of the chair, and Freud seems to have caught the exact moment his ring finger moved over the fabric. Is he feeling the texture of the chair? Stretching his fingers after remaining still for so long? The deep blue-green vein rising from his hand would stand out in other painter’s works, and yet it blends seamlessly into the rest of his arm. Thickly layered paint gives the skin the glow of life, while also remaining true to the dim light cast upon the room, a simply masterful work by Freud. 

Painting Of Leigh Bowery (Seated) is unlike Freud’s other work with Bowery for one very obvious reason, and one that I was really excited to find. This is the only picture of the six created by Freud to have Bowery looking directly out of the canvas. His eyes are not accusatory, nor proud, nor arrogant, as some of the other images painted of him would imply. Bowery seems to be nervous, if anything. Painted in 1990, Bowery could have no idea that he would die at the hands of a disease he could not stop. He had been diagnosed in 1988 and was aware that it was only a matter of time before he would lose his life to illness. It has been two years since this diagnosis, and with the newness of such a disease, his life expectancy is 3 years at max. Though he would live four years longer (twice the expected time frame), death is, at this point to Bowery, imminent. This could very well be the last painting Freud would make of him. He is centered in the portrait, and the angle descends upon him, instead of being on the level or below him as it usually is. He is still obviously a large man, but at this angle, he appears very small, very vulnerable. Bowery would go on to continue performing and posing for Freud’s paintings, and though this painting shows him exposed, even afraid, it is an extremely powerful piece. 

casier33@yahoo.com. “Lucian Freud | Leigh Bowery (Seated).” Flickr, Yahoo!, 9 Apr. 2025, www.flickr.com/photos/35925394@N08/15102543730.