Freud's nude picked to sell for $45 million

A painting by British artist Lucian Freud could set a record for a living artist when it goes on sale in Manhattan for an estimated $US25-35 million ($NZ33-45 million).

Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, a life-size portrait of a large naked woman, is going on the auction block on Tuesday night at Christie's New York galleries.

It could top the current record, set in November by Jeff Koons' Hanging Heart sculpture, which sold for $US23.6 million.

The 1995 painting depicts Freud's subject, Sue Tilley, sleeping on a worn-out sofa.

The 85-year-old artist is the grandson of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.

Christie's on Tuesday also is offering "Studies for Self Portrait" by British artist Francis Bacon. It could fetch $US25 million  to $US35 million.