Quick facts name francis bacon occupation painter birth date october 28, 1909 death date april 28, 1992 did you know. Published to accompany a major francis bacon retrospective in paris, which will travel to the fine arts. The irish figurative painter was said to have had an enormous library of books sprawled across his london studio, from modernist giants like t. He also curated the exhibition the naked portrait at the national galleries of scotland, edinburgh in 2007. Master of ebullient despair francis bacon, the papal portraits of 1953 francis baconhenry moore. This paperback book on the great british painter francis bacon is invaluable. Didier ottinger is the curator of this innovative exploration of the influence of literature in francis bacons painting. In 20, francis bacons painting three studies of lucian freud set a new. Bacon evolved from a painter of violence, pathology, and extreme upsetment, his twisted soul splattered in oil, pastel, dust, and aerosol on canvas to become a deft, cool stylist.
Nevertheless, his paintings have inspired some of the most standout artists of this generation, including julian schnabel and damien hirst. The centre pompidou is preparing a new retrospective devoted to the grand painter francis bacon, with a special take on his relationship with literature. Francis bacon 28 october 1909 28 april 1992 was an irishborn british figurative painter. Francis bacon was born on january 22, 1561 in london, england.
Books and painting will be on view at centre pompidou in paris from 11 september 2019 until 20 january 2020. Books and painting at centre pompidou, which completes the range. We explore the truth about francis bacon the man behind the most valuable artwork at auction. A lawyer, statesman, philosopher, and master of the english tongue, he is remembered in literary terms for the sharp worldly wisdom of a few dozen essays. When bacon was struggling financially during his youth, lightfoot. This fine memoir is more insightful than gossipy, and as a subject bacon is just about unbeatable. Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god. Francis bacon was a patron of libraries and developed a functional system for the cataloging of books by dividing them into three categorieshistory, poetry, and philosophywhich could further be divided into more specific subjects and subheadings. Mar 06, 2020 francis bacon is the great tragedian of his age. Bacon always vigorously opposed overanalysis of his.
Borrowing inspiration from surrealism, film, photography, and the old masters, he forged a distinctive style that made him one of the most widely recognized exponents of figurative art in the 1940s and 1950s. Scroll down, and find out what are the most expensive francis bacon paintings at auctions. He produced series of images of popes, crucifixions and portraits of close friends, with abstracted figures sometimes isolated in geometrical cages, set against flat, nondescript backgrounds. Painting in a godless world robert melville has a look at a book about francis bacon robert melville. Bacon said that he saw images in series, and his work, which. This volume provides invaluable insight into the life and works of francis bacon, the quintessential british expressionist painter. Aug 31, 2014 in defense of artist, francis bacon francis bacon has long been my least favorite great painter of the twentieth century. Bacon s unique interpretations and the intensely personal nature of his work make it difficult to visually trace his influence in contemporary art.
The philosophy books that inspired francis bacons art dazed. Francis bacon produced some of the most iconic images of wounded and traumatized humanity in postwar art. Martin hammer is the author of two important scholarly books on the artist, bacon and sutherland 2005 and francis bacon and nazi propaganda 2012. Francis bacon has long been my least favorite great painter of the twentieth century. From a small london studio littered ankledeep with source material, bottles of fine champagne, and a. He is best known for his depictions of popes, crucifixions and portraits of close friends.
Francis bacon s three studies of lucian freud has just become the most valuable artwork ever sold at auction, and for good reason. It reveals more about the artist and his motivations. The influence of literature in francis bacons painting. Bacon died of heart failure in madrid, spain, on april 28, 1992. He visited paris in 1935 where he bought a secondhand book on anatomical diseases of the mouth containing high quality handcoloured plates of. His works continue to puzzle and unnerve viewers, raising complex questions about their meaning. Bacon concentrated his energies on portraiture, often. Francis bacon, in full francis bacon, viscount saint alban, also called 160318 sir francis bacon, born january 22, 1561, york house, london, englanddied april 9, 1626, london, lord chancellor of england 161821. Books and painting presents paintings dating from 1971, the year of the retrospective event at the national galleries of the grand palais, to his final works in 1992. See all books authored by francis bacon, including essayes. Deep, dark and bleak a new exhibition at the centre pompidou in paris looks at how literary figures like eliot, conrad and aeschylus shaped the painter s work. The unsparing pages of francis bacon hyperallergic. This silent figure painted in 1960 and cloaked in a rich bloodred crimson is a work that stands as an almost unique example from. Late paintings, museum of fine arts, houston february.
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Deep, dark and bleak a new exhibition at the centre pompidou in paris looks at how literary figures like. A conjurer of strange and terrible beauty bacons troubled life is reflected in his art, which continued to develop even in the twilight of his career. Self portrait, 1978 this piece is not the only a selfportrait by francis bacon, but a very significant artwork since it was created during the recovery from depression caused by the death of the artists lover george dyer in 1971. And now this city has mounted another bacon bacchanal, francis bacon. His works are credited with developing the scientific method and remained influential through the scientific revolution bacon has been called the father of. Books and painting, a new exhibition at the centre pompidou in paris through jan. See available prints and multiples, paintings, and works on paper for sale and learn about the artist. The most expensive francis bacon paintings at auctions. Francis bacon was a great artist, but a very bad record keeper. Seated figure is a powerful example from francis bacons most celebrated series of works. Published to accompany a major francis bacon retrospective in paris, which will travel to the fine arts museum, houston, francis bacon analyzes bacon s works from 1971 onward in light of his relationship to literature.
Francis bacons three studies of lucian freud has just become the most valuable artwork ever sold at auction, and for good reason. Feb 04, 2017 francis bacon was the loudest, rudest, drunkest, most soughtafter british artist of the 20th century. Nov 23, 2016 bacons childhood nanny, jessie lightfoot, who lived with the painter until her death in 1951, and his two primary dealersfirst erica brausen at hanover gallery, then valerie beston at marlborough galleryalso played major roles in helping organize his life and career. Many times, it seems to be a francis bacon painting. A selftaught artist, bacon rejected abstraction in painting to explore a repertoire of strange, fractured, and often bizarre figurative images, many replete with homosexual, sadomasochistic, and fetishistic undertones. Artist, francis bacon 1909 1992, left with photographer cecil beaton 1904 1980 at an exhibition at the marlborough gallery, london of the artist s works.
Francis bacon was the loudest, rudest, drunkest, most soughtafter british artist of the 20th century. Francis bacon article about francis bacon by the free. The year 1999 saw the release of the book francis bacon. The art newspaper is the journal of record for the visual arts world, covering international news and events. Books and paintings, and francis bacon painting philosophy. Francis bacon, from tormented to mellow, in houston. Francis bacon, 1st viscount st albans, kc 22 january 1561 9 april 1626 was an english philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author, and pioneer of the scientific method. A new book claims that he tried to hush up the death for the sake of his career. He served both as attorney general and lord chancellor of england. Aug 29, 2008 when francis bacon died in 1992, he went out on a high note of fame. He left home at the age of sixteen and spent two years in berlin, germany, and paris, france.
Contemplating the intensity of bacons images as i leisurely read the books. Although his political career ended in disgrace, he remained extremely influential through his works, especially as philosophical advocate. Nine interviews with francis bacon spanning over twenty years from 1962 to 1986 which give invaluable insight into the creative mind of one of the twentieth centurysgreatest artists since its first publication, this bookwith its subsequent. Cheim and read francis bacon, confounder of art critics. Inaugurated by the socalled screaming popes of the 1950s, bacons renowned series of papal portraits were the works responsible for establishing the artists reputation. Apr 05, 2020 francis bacon, in full francis bacon, viscount saint alban, also called 160318 sir francis bacon, born january 22, 1561, york house, london, englanddied april 9, 1626, london, lord chancellor of england 161821. Francis bacon is one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Francis bacon 28 october 1909 28 april 1992 was an irishborn british figurative painter known for his emotionally charged raw imagery. Dec 28, 2019 and now this city has mounted another bacon bacchanal, francis bacon. This may, a monumental francis bacon triptych comes to. Didier ottinger is the curator of this innovative exploration of the.
Francis bacon books list of books by author francis bacon. Quotations by francis bacon, english philosopher, born january 22, 1561. Bacon en toutes lettres, centre pompidou, paris through january 20 francis bacon. Peter schjeldahl for the new yorker true, it would seem theres no defense needed for an artist who has had more than a halfdozen major retrospectives, and whose three studies of lucien freud holds the record for the. The book coincided with a national tour of many of bacon s paintings. Mar 03, 2020 study of a bull, 1991, by francis bacon. This landmark publishing event presents the entire oeuvre of bacons paintings for the first time in a deluxe fivevolume boxed set. Francis bacon, painter, is dead at 82 francis bacon, louise bourgeois and franz xaver messerschmidt. The irish figurative painter was said to have had an enormous library. This is a small book that is able to illustrate a large number of the works of francis bacon, contains multitudes of photographs of bacon and his social network as. The second in a series of books that seeks to illuminate francis bacons art and motivations, and to open up fresh and stimulating ways of understanding his paintings. Apr 12, 2019 quick facts name francis bacon occupation painter birth date october 28, 1909 death date april 28, 1992 did you know.
His bestknown works of the 1960s included a series of paintings inspired by the british mass murderer john christie. Bacons unique interpretations and the intensely personal nature of his work make it difficult to visually trace his influence in contemporary art. Bacon served as attorney general and lord chancellor of england, resigning amid charges of. Eliot, joseph conrad, and marcel proust, to friedrich nietzsche, gilles deleuze, sigmund freud, and jacques lacan reflecting the artists explicit interest in philosophy and. Sep 11, 2019 francis bacon read just as he painted. Francis bacon biography life, parents, name, death, book. A retrospective, which analyzed the work of the artist. Francis bacon, enigmatic painter of howling popes, lived a life on the edge.
Though small in size, there is a wealth of materials presented portions of the many interesting interviews conducted with him over the years, a great amount of documentary photographs of bacon, his works, his studio and his friends, including many color reproductions of his paintings. Encounter francis bacon and his gripping portraits, visions of the trials and traumas of the human condition, with this monograph by taschen books. Deep, dark and bleak a new exhibition at the centre pompidou in paris looks at how literary figures like eliot, conrad and aeschylus shaped the painters work. Master of ebullient despair francis bacon, the papal portraits of 1953 francis bacon henry moore. His works are credited with developing the scientific method and remained influential through the scientific revolution. Francis bacon 28 october 1909 28 april 1992 was an irishborn british figurative painter known for his bold, grotesque, emotionally charged, raw imagery. Raised with three siblings, francis bacon is a descendant of the sixteenthcentury statesman and essayist of the same name. The many volumes in his library are evidence of his deep engagement with literature. Based in london and new york, the englishlanguage publication is part of a network of. Art, neuroscience and psychology book cover all images courtesy the estate of francis bacon.
Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Editor martin harrison, following his appointment by the estate of francis bacon, has devoted over a decade to the creation of this magnificent publication, the firstever complete catalogue raisonne of the work of the great british painter. Twentyfive years after his death, his canvases regularly exceed. Francis bacon was an irish artist and one of the most unique, engaging figurative painters to emerge during the postwar period. When francis bacon died in 1992, he went out on a high note of fame. Nevertheless, his paintings have inspired some of the most standout artists of this generation, including julian schnabel and. Books and painting at centre pompidou, which completes the range of his career, with 60 paintings from the final period, 1971. In the hugh lane gallery, on parnell square in dublin, michael peppiatt is reading from his new memoir, francis bacon in your blood, which details his 30year friendship with the painter. The new york times in june of 1963, when michael peppiatt first met francis bacon, the former was a college boy at cambridge, the latter already a famous painter, more than thirty years his senior. Enjoy the best francis bacon quotes at brainyquote. In paris he saw an art exhibit by the painter pablo picasso 18811973. In 20, francis bacon s painting three studies of lucian freud set a new. Aug 28, 2019 the centre pompidou is preparing a new retrospective devoted to the grand painter francis bacon, with a special take on his relationship with literature. A radically new perspective on francis bacon s art, analyzing the ways in which literature inspired the artist s work.