Francis Bacon

1909 - 1992

Artist Information

For Francis Bacon, life inspired art, and he drew on the themes and people from the world around him and the feelings that they evoked within him to create art that challenges and resonates with the viewer. Though he abstracted the figures of the subjects in many of his pieces, Bacon insisted he was a realist, commenting that ‘You can’t be more horrific than life itself.’ He himself was an abstraction of sorts, cultivating a duality of being that was described in his New York Times obituary as being both ‘ornery and unpredictable,’ yet ‘admired…for his generosity, wit and kindness.’

Autoportrait (after, Self-Portrait, 1973), 1977

Francis Bacon

Autoportrait (after, Self-Portrait, 1973), 1977

Lying figure, 1969/2015

Francis Bacon

Lying figure, 1969/2015

Figure writing reflected in a mirror, 1977

Francis Bacon

Figure writing reflected in a mirror, 1977

Study for a portrait of John Edwards, 1986

Francis Bacon

Study for a portrait of John Edwards, 1986

In memory of George Dyer

Francis Bacon

In memory of George Dyer

Portrait of Georges Dyer Riding a Bicycle, 1966/2015

Francis Bacon

Portrait of Georges Dyer Riding a Bicycle, 1966/2015

Lying figure, 1969/2015

Francis Bacon

Lying figure, 1969/2015

Three Studies for a Self-portrait, 1990

Francis Bacon

Three Studies for a Self-portrait, 1990

Study for Selfportrait, 1984

Francis Bacon

Study for Selfportrait, 1984

Study for Head of Lucian Freud, 1967 (Q3)

Francis Bacon

Study for Head of Lucian Freud, 1967 (Q3)

Francis Bacon- Study for Selfportrait, 1984

Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon- Study for Selfportrait, 1984

Study For Bullfight #1, 1971

Francis Bacon

Study For Bullfight #1, 1971

Miroir de la Tauromachie, 1990

Francis Bacon

Miroir de la Tauromachie, 1990

Seated Figure, 1977

Francis Bacon

Seated Figure, 1977

Study for Portrait of Pope Innocent X after Velasquez, 1989

Francis Bacon

Study for Portrait of Pope Innocent X after Velasquez, 1989

Study for Portrait of Pope Innocent X after Velasquez, 1989

Francis Bacon

Study for Portrait of Pope Innocent X after Velasquez, 1989