Sotheby’s will be selling Lucian Freud’s portrait of Lady Lambton next month to settle the estate of Lord Lambton. The Telegraph tells the back story:

The sale follows a High Court case involving the family last year, after the death of Lord Lambton in 2006. The former Conservative defence minister, who resigned after being caught with a prostitute, had left his entire estate to his son and heir Edward Lambton, the Seventh Earl of Durham.

In October, the High Court heard a claim that three of his daughters – Lady Lucinda Lambton, Lady Beatrix Nevill and Lady Anne Lambton – were entitled to “millions of pounds” each under the laws of Italy, where their father spent his last 30 years. […]

Speaking of the sale of the painting, he said: “I am delighted that the painting of my mother has been so well received and hope that it finds a good home in the future.

“It is being sold, following a welcome settlement between me and my sisters, and also to carry out much needed reparations to Lambton Estates.”

Lord Lambton’s son to sell £3.5m Lucian Freud painting of his mother after inheritance row settled (Telegraph)