Mornington Crescent - c 1961 by Frank Auerbach

Executed approx. 1961.
Sotheby's Sept 2016
Gifted by Frank Auerbach to Lucian Freud who in turn gifted it to mutual friend Raymond Jones.
Raymond was friend to both Frank and Lucian, and was "Rat Man" as depicted in Lucian's famous painting, Naked Man with Rat.
Freud turned to Raymond to borrow money to support his growing gambling debts, and he in turn introduced him to his circle of artist friends including Frank Auerbach, Michael Andrews and Francis Bacon, many of whom Raymond became close friends with. Raymond became a popular figure in the bustling London scene, regularly dining with the artists at Wheeler’s, one of their favourite London restaurants.