Realist painter Lucian Freud has died at age 88

[July 22, 2011]  LONDON (AP) -- Art dealer William R. Acquavella says that realist painter Lucian Freud has died at age 88.

In a statement the New York-based Acquavella says that Freud died after an illness but gave no further details late Thursday.

Freud was known for his intense realist portraits, particularly of nudes.

In recent years his paintings commanded staggering prices at auction, including one of an overweight nude woman sleeping on a couch that sold in 2008 for $33.6 million.

[Associated Press]

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