---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most abiding memory of visiting…"
description: "\"The most abiding memory of visiting Lucian Freud's studio were his eyes, with the gimlet gaze of a Hooded Falcon. But he made for very relaxing company..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/charles-saatchi-14210_abiding_the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-luci_2420630.png"
---

#  The most abiding memory of visiting Lucian Freud's studio…

![“The most abiding memory of visiting Lucian Freud's studio were his eyes, with the gimlet gaze of a Hooded Falcon. But he made for very relaxing company, quick to be amused at the world and his own peccadilloes. He enjoyed the seedy squalor of his rooms in a posh house in the most desirable part of…” quote by Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/charles-saatchi-14210_abiding_the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-luci_2420630.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/charles-saatchi-14210_abiding_the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-luci_2420630.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/charles-saatchi-14210_abiding_the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-luci_2420630.png)

> “The most abiding memory of visiting Lucian Freud's studio were his eyes, with the gimlet gaze of a Hooded Falcon. But he made for very relaxing company, quick to be amused at the world and his own peccadilloes. He enjoyed the seedy squalor of his rooms in a posh house in the most desirable part of Holland Park, and living up to his persona as an oddball bohemian.”

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote captures Freud’s intense, penetrating stare likened to a falcon, yet reveals his relaxed, amused demeanor and love for gritty surroundings despite upscale settings.

**In simple terms:** Freud’s fierce gaze hides a playful, bohemian spirit.

Key Takeaway

Recognize depth beyond appearances.

Themes

art personality bohemianism perception contrast

Mood

reflective curious

Type

anecdotal observational

When to use this quote

- gallery visits
- art collecting
- studio tours
- personal interactions

Key Concepts

psychology aesthetic social class

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we reconcile an artist’s intense work with their casual lifestyle?
- What does the setting reveal about creative identity?

A Different Perspective

The description may romanticize eccentricity, overlooking personal struggles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Abiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abiding/) [Amused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amused/) [Bohemian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bohemian/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Desirable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desirable/) [Enjoyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoyed/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Falcon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falcon/) [Falcon Relaxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falcon-relaxing-6124931/) [Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freud/) [Freud Studio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freud-studio-6124929/) [Gimlets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gimlets-72173/) [His eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-eyes/) [Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holland/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Lucian Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucian-freud-2325107/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Oddball Bohemian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oddball-bohemian-6124930/) [Oddballs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oddballs/) [Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parks/) [Persona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persona/) [Posh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posh/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Squalor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/squalor/) [Studios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studios/) [Visiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visiting/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Armstrong lives as he rides - surrounded by a cocoon of aides and helpers, his gimlet eyes focused on victory… The self-described atheist has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-roberts/armstrong-lives-as-he-rides-surrounded-by-a-cocoon-of-aides-and/)

[Selena Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-roberts/)

> [Successful minds work like a gimlet--to a single point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/successful-minds-work-like-a-gimlet-to-a-single-point/)

[Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/)

> [I like vodka tonics and gin &amp; tonics. I also like gimlets. I like things that have sweetness with a bit of a kick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lea-salonga/i-like-vodka-tonics-and-gin-tonics-i-also-like-gimlets-i-like-things/)

[Lea Salonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lea-salonga/)

> [Lucian Freud's career affirms that the only thing an artist can do is remain true to whatever vision, (lack of) talent, or ideas that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/lucian-freud-s-career-affirms-that-the-only-thing-an-artist-can-do-is/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

> [I've met lots of interesting people, but Lucian Freud is the one who sticks out because I spent so much time with him. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/i-ve-met-lots-of-interesting-people-but-lucian-freud-is-the-one-who/)

[Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/)

> [“It is remarkable that a fist-gnawingly dire England performance still has the power to shock, when in some ways this one had all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-hyde/it-is-remarkable-that-a-fist-gnawingly-dire-england-performance-still/)

[Marina Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-hyde/)

> [A real gimlet is half gin and half Rose's lime juice and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/a-real-gimlet-is-half-gin-and-half-rose-s-lime-juice-and-nothing-else/)

[Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/)

> [Everything is biographical, Lucian Freud says. What we make, why it is made, how we draw a dog, who it is we are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/everything-is-biographical-lucian-freud-says-what-we-make-why-it-is/)

[Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/)

> [“Her face was fragile and mischievous, pale enough to absorb hues from the world around her-purple, green, pink-like a face painted by Lucian Freud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/her-face-was-fragile-and-mischievous-pale-enough-to-absorb-hues-from/)

[Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/)

> [Constantly contemplate the whole of time and the whole of substance, and consider that all individual things as to substance are a grain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/constantly-contemplate-the-whole-of-time-and-the-whole-of-substance/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [I think that doing comedy and playing Dwight is a service. Not to get grandiose about it, but I have a talent for playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-think-that-doing-comedy-and-playing-dwight-is-a-service-not-to-get/)

[Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/)

> [Be yourself! Be individualistic!' he called out after me. 'But for God's sake get your hair cut. You look like an oddball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zindel/be-yourself-be-individualistic-he-called-out-after-me-but-for-god-s/)

[Paul Zindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zindel/)

> [Many outsiders see the art world as elitist and it is, except it is also oddly down-to-earth and embracing of oddballs who don't fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-thornton/many-outsiders-see-the-art-world-as-elitist-and-it-is-except-it-is/)

[Sarah Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-thornton/)

> [I've been such an oddball my whole life, but I've always been cool and I've always dressed fairly smartly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/i-ve-been-such-an-oddball-my-whole-life-but-i-ve-always-been-cool-and/)

[Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/)

> [This is what God's kingdom is like: a bunch of outcasts and oddballs gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/this-is-what-god-s-kingdom-is-like-a-bunch-of-outcasts-and-oddballs/)

[Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/)

## More by Charles Saatchi

> [Be the Worst You Can Be: Life's Too Long for Patience and Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/be-the-worst-you-can-be-life-s-too-long-for-patience-and-virtue/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [My dark little secret is that I don't actually believe many people in the art world have much feeling for art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/my-dark-little-secret-is-that-i-don-t-actually-believe-many-people-in/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [If you can't take a good kicking, you shouldn't parade how much luckier you are than other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/if-you-can-t-take-a-good-kicking-you-shouldn-t-parade-how-much/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [If, like me, you have many reasons to be less than secure and self-assured, and like me, you are far from stable even on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/if-like-me-you-have-many-reasons-to-be-less-than-secure-and-self/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [I liked working in advertising, but don't believe my taste in art, such as it is, was entirely formed by TV commercials. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/i-liked-working-in-advertising-but-don-t-believe-my-taste-in-art-such/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [Nothing is as uplifting as standing before a great painting whether it was painted in 1505 or last Tuesday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/nothing-is-as-uplifting-as-standing-before-a-great-painting-whether/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [If I stop being on good behaviour for a moment, my dark little secret is that I don't actually believe many people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/if-i-stop-being-on-good-behaviour-for-a-moment-my-dark-little-secret/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [My aim in life isn't so much the pursuit of happiness as the happiness of pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/my-aim-in-life-isn-t-so-much-the-pursuit-of-happiness-as-the/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [Nobody can give you advice after you've been collecting for a while. If you don't enjoy making your own decisions, you're never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/nobody-can-give-you-advice-after-you-ve-been-collecting-for-a-while/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [I have asked to have no funeral, and no memorial service. I hate other people's and would certainly not appreciate my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/i-have-asked-to-have-no-funeral-and-no-memorial-service-i-hate-other/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [I find the theatre faintly embarrassing for the actors performing on stage. It seems rather showy-off in an undignified way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/i-find-the-theatre-faintly-embarrassing-for-the-actors-performing-on/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [I may not be much good at most things, but if I didn't have the pleasure of planning and installing shows, and doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/i-may-not-be-much-good-at-most-things-but-if-i-didn-t-have-the/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [The fact that in the last 10 years only five of the 40 Turner Prize nominees have been painters tells you more about curators…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/the-fact-that-in-the-last-10-years-only-five-of-the-40-turner-prize/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [It's obvious nonsense, but it makes nice people feel good about themselves to do their bit for the planet. It's vanity of a grotesque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/it-s-obvious-nonsense-but-it-makes-nice-people-feel-good-about/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

> [I hate to sound like a romantic adolescent, but I believe artists don't generally see art as a career choice; they simply can't overcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/i-hate-to-sound-like-a-romantic-adolescent-but-i-believe-artists-don/)

[Charles Saatchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

[Explore all 47 Charles Saatchi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/)

## More Abiding quotes

> [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/)

[Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/)

> [Why is it, my shadow-striding friend, that we don't fear dreams? We lose consciousness, lose control, things happen with no apparent logic and abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/why-is-it-my-shadow-striding-friend-that-we-don-t-fear-dreams-we-lose/)

[Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/)

> [I think that there is just a deep and abiding sexism that's part of your life from the moment that you're conscious as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-w-garcia/i-think-that-there-is-just-a-deep-and-abiding-sexism-that-s-part-of/)

[Liz W. Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-w-garcia/)

> [Faith is the capacity of the soul to perceive the abiding, the invisible in the visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-baeck/faith-is-the-capacity-of-the-soul-to-perceive-the-abiding-the/)

[Leo Baeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-baeck/)

> [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [A wicked mortal is not the idea of God. He is little else than the expression of error. To suppose that sin, lust, hatred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/a-wicked-mortal-is-not-the-idea-of-god-he-is-little-else-than-the/)

[Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/)

> [When the penalty for a policeman's mistake is to put a criminal back out on the street, then we are hurting America; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/when-the-penalty-for-a-policeman-s-mistake-is-to-put-a-criminal-back/)

[Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/)

> [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-aims-of-these-three-groups-are-entirely-irreconcilable-the-aim-of/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [After more than two decades of trying to destroy the firearms rights of more than 80 million law-abiding American gun owners - and statistically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gottlieb/after-more-than-two-decades-of-trying-to-destroy-the-firearms-rights/)

[Alan Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gottlieb/)

> [When you defile the pleasant streams, And the wild bird's abiding place, You massacre a million dreams, And cast your spittle in God's face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-drinkwater/when-you-defile-the-pleasant-streams-and-the-wild-bird-s-abiding/)

[John Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-drinkwater/)

> [How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/how-can-we-hope-to-retain-our-freedom-through-the-generations-if-we/)

[Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/)

> [Love and friendship, two of life's abiding rewards, are endangered species in Hollywood. People crave both, mistaking alliance for friendship, lust for love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/love-and-friendship-two-of-life-s-abiding-rewards-are-endangered/)

[Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/)

> [In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/in-a-government-like-ours-the-crown-is-the-abiding-and-unshakable/)

[Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/)

> [I sometimes forget that life is fragile. The fact that I have more time to dream my dreams and take my ease is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luci-swindoll/i-sometimes-forget-that-life-is-fragile-the-fact-that-i-have-more/)

[Luci Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luci-swindoll/)

[Browse all 387 Abiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abiding/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The most abiding memory of visiting Lucian Freud's studio were his eyes, with the gimlet gaze of a Hooded Falcon. But he made for very relaxing company, quick to be amused at the world and his own peccadilloes. He enjoyed the seedy squalor of his rooms in a posh house in the most desirable part of Holland Park, and living up to his persona as an oddball bohemian.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Saatchi"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-lucian-freud-s-studio-were-his/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Abiding"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-lucian-freud-s-studio-were-his/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/charles-saatchi-14210_abiding_the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-luci_2420630.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/charles-saatchi-14210_abiding_the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-luci_2420630.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/charles-saatchi-14210_abiding_the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-luci_2420630.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The most abiding memory of visiting Lucian Freud's studio were his eyes, with the gimlet gaze of a Hooded…” — Charles Saatchi",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Saatchi",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-saatchi/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The most abiding memory of visiting...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-lucian-freud-s-studio-were-his/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-saatchi/the-most-abiding-memory-of-visiting-lucian-freud-s-studio-were-his/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
