You're the Bry(i)an who's NOT a Phillistine, right? Art market prices have been out of control for almost a century....the fact that it's a justifiably-reknowned, near-legendary figure like Freud that's getting it for what I (and apparently many others) consider to be a powerful, genuinely erotic and very beautiful portrait makes me glad.

GLAD, I tells ya....at least rich assholes spending astronomical sums on culture is better than about a billion other things they COULD be spending it on. This was front-page news in all the London tabloids a few weeks back. Granted, the tone was similarly 'What kind of nutter want to spend that kind of money to see a naked fat bird?' but at least it brings art to peoples' attention.

Actually, I don't think I said anything about a "naked fat bird" or the content of the painting at all, just that it was X price which was equal to Y Gisele photos, and then joked that art prices are crazy. But thanks for projecting!

Gimme a break, Bryan.  This post is TOTALLY about how not-hot the model is.  Which is fine, but don't pretend you're just posting about the outrageous art market. (What's next, your posting about the skyrocketing costs of the rice and corn market?)  Just own up, buddy.

Dude, people, seriously: if I'd wanted to say "that painting's model is too fat to warrant so much money" I would have just said that. But I don't think that, and I didn't write it. Seriously, show me where I say that here and I'll write you a check for kiss-my-ass amount of dollars.

Uh, so the comparison to the Gisele Bundchen photos was just arbitrary then? And I was actually more taken aback by your seemingly bemused reaction at the (admittedly staggering) price of a famous painting by a living name artist, when you yourself should have more than a passing knowledge of art market shenanigans than most.

Anyway, re-reading what I wrote, perhaps the tone was more snippy and aghast than intended.

Oh and one more thing: replies from all three regular 'Scanners'? I feel humbled....and I'm genuinely touched by your community spirit and willingness to leap to the defence of a member of your little family over there....