When Sue Tilley met Lucian Freud, it changed her life. Now a painting of her could fetch $47 million

Sue Tilley met Lucian Freud while working in an unemployment office, and the portraits Freud painted of her in the 1990s are now among the most famous and valuable in modern art. 'Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,' painted in 1996 and about 7½ feet tall, is set to be sold at Sotheby’s on June 24 with a presale estimate of 25–35 million pounds. Earlier Freud portraits, including 'Benefits Supervisor Sleeping' (2008) sold for $33.6 million, and 'Large Interior, W11' (2022) brought $86 million.

Tilley recalls the sittings—tea, chat, paint everywhere—and says the experience changed her life. She notes Freud’s work is intimate and unflinching, and she’s surprised by her lasting Sotheby’s association.