Lucian Freud, the 85-year-old flesh- and-flab-loving British painter, became the world's priciest living artist at auction last night when his graceful portrait of a 280-pound civil servant named Sue fetched $33.6 million at Christie's International in New York.

The 1995 Freud was one of eight records smashed in an exuberant sale featuring the male clique of auction stars that includes Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon and Richard Prince. Tom Wesselmann, Prince, Sam Francis and Adolph Gottlieb also fetched new highs.

``Benefits Supervisor Sleeping,'' Freud's life-size, 7-foot- long painting of a naked Sue Tilley curled up on a ratty sofa, was estimated to sell for $25 million to $35 million.