Young Gallery acquires three Lucian Freud prints thanks to Arts Council

The Young Gallery in Salisbury has acquired three Lucian Freud prints, Head of Ali (1999), Solicitor’s Head (2003) and The Painter’s Doctor (2005-2006), which have been transferred to the nation in lieu of an inheritance tax bill.

The prints will be added to the museum’s collection of over 4,000 artworks, prints, sculpture, books and photography. 

The acquisition was made possible through the Arts Council Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The three prints were from the estate of Lucian Freud and were accepted by HM Government in Lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to The Young Gallery. 

The etchings were created by renowned artist Lucian Freud between 1999 and 2006. They include Head of Ali (1999), a portrait of his son Alexander Boyt, Solicitor’s Head (2003) a portrait of Marilyn Gurland, a lawyer from Brighton, who wrote to Freud offering herself as a sitter, and The Painter’s Doctor (2005/6), and a portrait of Dr Michael Gormley Freud’s physician and friend, who was also the brother of sculptor Anthony Gormley. 

Lucian Freud, lived at Coombe Priory, Higher Coombe in the 1950s, just under 19 miles away from the Young Gallery. Cecil Beaton, his neighbour, photographed Freud in this house.

The works will be added to the museum’s established collection of works on paper, which also includes works by David Hockney, Henry Moore, John Constable and J M W Turner. 

The public will be able to see the three prints by Freud when they go on display from 25 October in Gallery 2.  

Emmie Kell, Director of Museums and Cultural Property, Arts Council England, said: “I’m delighted to see that, through the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme, the Young Gallery’s visitors will be able to enjoy newly accessible prints by one of the UK’s most recognised artists. Acceptance in Lieu continues to be a crucial boost to our public collections up and down the country, as well as a useful way for those with inheritance tax bills to settle them in a mutually beneficial and public-spirited manner.”

Michael Clarke CBE, Chair, Acceptance in Lieu Panel, said: “I am delighted that these three etchings by Lucian Freud have been allocated to the Young Gallery, Salisbury through the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme. The Gallery’s print collection, which features the work of many modern British artists, will provide an excellent context. There is also a local connection – in the 1950s Freud lived at Coombe Priory, Higher Coombe, only 19 miles from Salisbury. I hope these acquisitions for the Young Gallery will encourage others to use the Scheme and continue to support our national collections.”

Dr Emily Dunbar, Curator and Gallery Manager, said: “We are delighted to acquire these prints with the generous support from the Arts Council. This is a major acquisition and will enable locals and visitors alike to see more works by leading British artists, such as Freud, for free in the Young Gallery.” 

Tim Chadsey, Chair of the Supporters of the Young Gallery, said: "I am delighted that the Young Gallery was able to acquire these three etchings by Lucian Freud. Over the past years the gallery's collection has grown to include many works by important British artists and these three will make a truly significant addition. Freud was an intense and challenging observer of the human form and I'm eagerly anticipating seeing them on display in the gallery."

For more information on the Young Galley, please visit https://www.younggallerysalisbury.org.uk/