The artwork titled “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet (also known as Sue Tilley)” was created by Lucian Freud in 1996. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece belongs to the Expressionism movement and exemplifies the genre of nude painting (nu).
The artwork portrays a detailed and lifelike rendering of a nude woman asleep in a chair. The woman’s form is depicted with a pronounced realism, highlighting every curve and fold of her body. Freud’s brushstrokes capture the texture of her skin under soft lighting, lending the piece a tactile quality. Surrounding the figure is a richly patterned carpet, featuring intricate designs that include a lion motif, which adds a contrasting background to the composition. The subdued color palette and realistic portrayal emphasize the natural beauty and vulnerability of the sleeping figure, embodying Freud’s characteristic attention to the human form and its inherent dignity.
