Art dealer William R Acquavella says the painter died after an illness British artist Lucian Freud has died at the age of 88, his solicitor said. In a statement, Diana Rawstron, who has represented Freud for many years, said: “Lucian Freud, artist, born 8 December 1922 in Berlin, died peacefully last night [Wednesday 20 July] at his home in London.” The painter, a towering figure in the art world for more than 50 years, died after an illness, his New York-based art dealer said. William Acquavella said in a statement that he would mourn Freud “as one of the great painters of the 20th century”. Mr Acquavella added: “He lived to paint and painted until the day he died, far removed from the noise of the art world.” Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate art gallery, said: “The vitality of his nudes, the intensity of the still life paintings and the presence of his portraits of family and friends guarantee Lucian Freud a unique place in the pantheon of late 20th century art. “His early paintings redefined British art and his later works stand comparison with the great figurative painters of any period.” • More details to follow shortly … Lucian Freud Painting Art guardian.co.uk