In London at least three excellent exhibitions are currently running to celebrate and commemorate 100 years since the birth of the British painter Lucian Freud. Each identifies aspects of the artist's life and work, to define why his status in the art world is deserved; during his lifetime he was recognised as Britain's greatest living painter. The grandson of psychologist Sigmund Freud, Lucian was born in Berlin on 8 December 1922, emigrating with his family to England in 1933 as the Nazis seized power. Granted British citizenship in 1939, he died in London, aged 88, on July 20, 2011, having produced an extraordinary body of work during his unconventional, at times eccentric, life. The three centenary shows are a chance to see the scale of his work. All are worth seeing. Giving insight into Freud's brilliance as an artist, London's National Gallery hosts 'Lucian Freud: New Perspectives' (until 22 January 2023) and offers a chronological retrospective
CRAIG BROWN: The Colony - or Muriel s, as it was also known - was a cramped, seedy place, untouched by sunshine or fresh air, but it served its purpose as an afternoon drinking club.