'I've had a lovely time' - Lucian Freud

After seeing Lucian Freud's exhibitoin at the National Portrait Gallery I was blown away, he is one of my favourite painters and finally getting to see his work live was incredible. The raw fleshyness of his paintings was fabulous, and you could tell the emotion behind both sitter and painter automatically. This was definitely one of my favourite exhibitions, so much so that I ended up buying Martin Gayford's Man with a Blue Scarf: On Sitting for a Portrait by Lucian Freud. I have always been a fan of Gayford, I think he is an extremely interesting art critic with a wonderful insight into the world of art. I especially became a fan of his after reading A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney.

This book opens up both the mind of a world class painter as he works, as well as what goes through the mind of your "average joe" as they sit for a painting. Gayford describes his conversations with Freud in great detail, allowing us into the mind of a genius. These conversations are absorbing and entertaining as we learn of Freuds' relationship with other famous painters such as Bacon, his disdain for many other artists such as Leonardo diVinci who he claims 'someone should write a book about what a ghastly painter Leonardo da Vinci was', his daily routines and most importantly, how he begins, progresses and finally finishes one of his beautiful paintings. We also learn about his friendship with the infamous Kray brothers, something I found astonishing and hilarious at the same time. All in all it is a fascinating read into someone who has lived a life to the full, doing what he loves most, painting.

It was an easy, enjoyable book that I can see myself picking up again and again. So if you are fan of Freud's I urge you to read this insightful, witty and generally lovely book about Gayford's experience as a model for him. I think my favourite part was the last page, added after the death of Freud in 2011, which was extremely touching. Gayford quotes Freud saying 'I’m not frightened in the slightest of death; I’ve had a lovely time.” A poignant, true and simple take of what comes after a well lived and achieved life.