Francis Bacon

Life

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Young Francis Bacon in his early twenties Credit: Photograph by Francis Julian Guttmann, London (courtesy MB Art Collection)

Young Francis Bacon in his early twenties
Credit: Photograph by Francis Julian Guttmann, London (courtesy MB Art Collection)

Francis Bacon around the age of four with his mother, Winifred Bacon Credit: Courtesy of The Estate of Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon around the age of four with his mother, Winifred Bacon
Credit: Courtesy of The Estate of Francis Bacon

Bacon’s 7 Queensberry Mews design studio at the time of his first show in 1930 Credit: Courtesy of Ianthe Knott

Bacon’s 7 Queensberry Mews design studio at the time of his first show in 1930
Credit: Courtesy of Ianthe Knott

Eric Hall, Bacon’s steadfast companion from the early 1930s to the late 1940s Credit: Courtesy of The Estate of Francis Bacon

Eric Hall, Bacon’s steadfast companion from the early 1930s to the late 1940s
Credit: Courtesy of The Estate of Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon, photographed by Cecil Beaton at mid-century, in his studio at Overstrand Mansions in Battersea Credit: ©The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby’s

Francis Bacon, photographed by Cecil Beaton at mid-century, in his studio at Overstrand Mansions in Battersea
Credit: ©The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby’s

Muriel Belcher, the tart-tongued queen among the queens at the Colony Room, Bacon’s favorite after-hours hangout for decades Credit: The John Deakin Archive ©John Deakin/John Deakin Archive/Bridgeman Images

Muriel Belcher, the tart-tongued queen among the queens at the Colony Room, Bacon’s favorite after-hours hangout for decades
Credit: The John Deakin Archive ©John Deakin/John Deakin Archive/Bridgeman Images

Peter Lacy, the love of Bacon’s life, who met Bacon in 1952 in the churning Soho night Credit: Collection and image ©Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (Reg. No. RM98F12:17:4) ©The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved

Peter Lacy, the love of Bacon’s life, who met Bacon in 1952 in the churning Soho night
Credit: Collection and image ©Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (Reg. No. RM98F12:17:4) ©The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved

The exterior of 17 Reece Mews, Bacon’s legendarily cave-like studio just off Old Brompton Road in South Kensington Credit: Photo by Perry Ogden ©The Estate of Francis Bacon

The exterior of 17 Reece Mews, Bacon’s legendarily cave-like studio just off Old Brompton Road in South Kensington
Credit: Photo by Perry Ogden ©The Estate of Francis Bacon

During the early 1960s, when Bacon and George Dyer went out, they made an impression — Bacon carefully casual, Dyer in Edwardian-looking suits. Credit: Photograph by John Deakin Collection: The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved

During the early 1960s, when Bacon and George Dyer went out, they made an impression — Bacon carefully casual, Dyer in Edwardian-looking suits.
Credit: Photograph by John Deakin Collection: The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved

The romance of the road: Bacon and George Dyer photographed by John Deakin on their way by train to Greece in 1965 Credit: Photograph by John Deakin, 1965 Collection & image ©Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (Reg. No. RM98F149:33L) ©The Estate of Francis

The romance of the road: Bacon and George Dyer photographed by John Deakin on their way by train to Greece in 1965
Credit: Photograph by John Deakin, 1965 Collection & image ©Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (Reg. No. RM98F149:33L) ©The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved

Bacon performing at a glittering dinner the night of the private view of his 1971 show at the Grand Palais in Paris — the first Englishman to be honored with a retrospective there Credit: ©André Morain, Paris

Bacon performing at a glittering dinner the night of the private view of his 1971 show at the Grand Palais in Paris — the first Englishman to be honored with a retrospective there
Credit: ©André Morain, Paris

John Edwards, the East Ender whom Bacon met in 1976 and “fell for in a minute” Credit: Item from Francis Bacon Studio and Archive: B&W photograph of John Edwards, taken by Francis Bacon (c.1980). Collection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin. © Es

John Edwards, the East Ender whom Bacon met in 1976 and “fell for in a minute”
Credit: Item from Francis Bacon Studio and Archive: B&W photograph of John Edwards, taken by Francis Bacon (c.1980). Collection & image © Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin. © Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS London, 2020

José Capelo, the charming Spaniard who came into Bacon’s life in 1987 Credit: Collection and image © Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (Reg. No. RM98F194:16) ©The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved

José Capelo, the charming Spaniard who came into Bacon’s life in 1987
Credit: Collection and image © Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin (Reg. No. RM98F194:16) ©The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved

The last martini in Madrid: Bacon at Bar Cock in the days just before he died Credit: Courtesy of José Astiarraga, Bar Cock, Madrid

The last martini in Madrid: Bacon at Bar Cock in the days just before he died
Credit: Courtesy of José Astiarraga, Bar Cock, Madrid