One of Britain’s pre-eminent postwar painters who became the most internationally collected artists was Frank Auerbach. Having spent his entire life in London, Auerbach fully embraced the city’s vibrant colors and diverse forms. His oil paintings and drawings showcased the intense observation and dynamic mark-making, he employed to powerfully capture the essence of his subjects. Having an entire career settled in London, the moments of creativity of Auerbach returns through one of his rarest paintings in the Christie’s evening sale on March 19, 2025.
Frank Auerbach’s Nude on Bed III from 1961 will be the key highlight of the Christie’s Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale. Expanding provenance, the painting was owned by Hon. Moyra Campbell (1924-2024) for over six decades and was last publicly exhibited in Auerbach’s retrospective at the Hayward Gallery and the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh in 1978. Moyra Campbell had a discerning taste as she was considered a woman of intellect. Serving in the top-secret Y-Service at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, she only lived a dynamic life afterward in Edinburgh and London. Further, she worked for Count Robert-Jean de Vogüé, director of Moët et Chandon in France for many years.
The painting, Nude on Bed III, dates from Auerbach’s career rise under the visionary guidance of the London gallerist Helen Lessore, who unveiled the painting at her Beaux Arts Gallery after a year it was composed. Auerbach associated with the gallery after Lessore visited an exhibition of the graduate painters at the Royal College in the summers of 1955. She established a strong reputation for the young artist by organizing his first solo exhibition in 1956 and annual exhibitions from 1957 to 1964.
Sculpted from the thick impasto, the composition became a beacon of light from the deep and monochromatic tones of Auerbach’s Camden studio. Interestingly, it was painted at the height of the School of London, exemplifying a distinctive approach to the female form as the period showed a pivotal moment in his career. The period was significant for the artist as his muses inspired a series of raw and powerful intimate works that redefined figurative painting in post-war Britain.
Philip Harley, Senior Director, Modern British and Irish Art, Christie’s London speaks on the occasion as he described the painting in few words. He said,
“With its impeccable provenance, untouched presence on the market, and deep connection to the artist’s formative years, Nude on Bed III is poised to be a highlight of the season. Its rich impasto bears witness to the artist’s commitment to capturing the sensibility of the human form. This sale not only honors the legacy of Frank Auerbach, who died towards the end of last year, but also celebrates the remarkable life of Hon. Moyra Campbell, whose vision and passion for collecting ensured the preservation of this masterpiece for generations. As interest in Auerbach’s work further intensifies, this auction marks a defining moment for collectors and admirers of British art alike. We look forward to offering this work at auction in the upcoming Modern British and Irish Art Evening Sale on 19 March.”
The painting epitomizes the artist’s ability to fuse the subject and setting into a single entity. The paint on the canvas acts as a powerful medium for expressing raw human emotion, highlighting his dedication to authentically portraying the essence of the human form. This commitment not only enhances the artwork but also invites viewers to connect with the depth of the human experience.
Auerbach used a painstaking process of painting, scraping away, and repainting, building dense and sculptural textures. These layers further lend the figure a luminous presence as if they evolved from eternal time. Furthermore, the hallmark of the monochromatic tones of his early palette allowed the female subjects of his canvas to emerge in relief, subtly distinct from their surroundings. Hence, the painting Nude on Bed III is a significant artwork that is going to be in the limelight of the event. Another artwork from this same collection of Hon. Moyra Campbell is Mary Martin’s Diagonal Rhythm on Black, 1967.
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