A PAINTING of a Buncrana-born businessman by the late artist Lucian Freud, goes to auction next month with an estimated price of €17 million.
Developer Pat Doherty acknowledges his portrait entitled ‘Donegal Man’ is not pretty.
It is one of three of Freud’s works owned by the businessman who sat for some 600 hours to allow the artist to complete his work. When Frued initially suggested painting the portrait, Doherty texted the renowned British artist to ‘eff off’.
However, he went on to do 100 sittings for the portrait to be auctioned and 85 and 35 sittings for the other two works.
Each sitting took around three hours. When Freud was finished Doherty bought the results.’Donegal Man’ will be auctioned by Dickenson Auctioneers in London.
Commenting on the sittings Pat Doherty said “It’s certainly an experience. It took a lot of time,” he said.
A collector of art Pat knew both Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon from the London Art scene.
While reluctant to sit for the portrait, he was eventaully persuaded by his friend and fellow board member Andrew Parker Bowles, ex husband of now Queen consort, Camilla.
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THE International property company owned by Buncrana born developer Pat Doherty has just agreed a deal to sell its...