A grandson of Sigmund Freud, the artist was the pupil of Sir Cedric Morris. His paintings are of close family, friends and associates, rather than commissioned portraits. He has remarked, "Whom else can I hope to portray with any degree of profundity?". This portrait of his elder brother, painted in 1985-86, exemplifies Freud's probing vision. It also demonstrates his development towards more fibrous brushwork and greater impasto.