Background

Francis Bacon was born on October 28, 1909, in Dublin, the son of Captain Anthony Edward Mortimer Bacon, a Boer War veteran, and Christina Winifred Firth, an heiress linked to the steel and coal industries. His childhood was marked by frequent relocations between Ireland and England, which fostered a sense of dislocation that would persist throughout his life.

In his youth, Bacon was known to be reserved yet had a penchant for elaborate dress. This penchant, combined with an effeminate demeanor for the era, led to his father allegedly hiring grooms to horsewhip him, a revelation that surfaced in 1992. In 1926, after being discovered in his mother’s clothing, he was expelled from his family home.

The remainder of 1926 was spent in London, where he faced poverty and resorted to petty theft to survive. Following a brief stay in Berlin in 1927, he moved to Paris, where he began to explore the city's art scene and was inspired to pursue painting.

Upon returning to London, Bacon worked as an interior designer and a part-time telephone operator. His painting titled Crucifixion, completed in 1933, was his first attempt at public recognition, but the negative reception caused him to abandon painting for nearly a decade, as he struggled to find engaging subject matter.

By 1944, Bacon regained confidence with his work Three Studies for the Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion, which was critically acclaimed. This marked the beginning of a prolific period that included his renowned Heads series. In 1958, he established a partnership with the Marlborough Fine Art Gallery, which represented him until 1992.

Bacon's health declined during a holiday in Spain in 1992 when he developed severe respiratory issues. He passed away from a heart attack on April 28, 1992, leaving an estate valued at nearly 11 million pounds to his heir, John Edwards.

Art

Bacon's artistic oeuvre is defined by several recurring themes, particularly the motif of crucifixion, which he believed elicited a spectrum of emotions and offered insights into human behavior.

Another prominent element in his work is the screaming mouth, notably present in pieces from the late 1940s and early 1950s. His inspiration often stemmed from a frame of a screaming nurse from Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 film Battleship Potemkin.

Following his death, the Hugh Lane Gallery in 1998 transported and cataloged Bacon's entire studio from London to Dublin, creating a comprehensive database detailing 570 books and catalogues, 1500 photographs, 100 slashed canvases, 1300 torn book pages, 2000 assorted artist materials, and around 70 drawings.

Where to See His Work

• Tate Modern: A contemporary art gallery in London housing a national collection of British art from 1900 onward, alongside international modern art.
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Located in New York City, this museum is renowned as one of the largest and most significant modern art institutions globally.
• Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane: This gallery boasts a prominent public collection of contemporary art in Ireland.

For More Information

• Francis Bacon Website: The official site dedicated to Francis Bacon's estate, providing extensive resources on the artist's life and works, including the Francis Bacon: Catalogue Raisonné which features all 584 numbered works.

Books

1. Bacon (Basic Art Series 2.0): A comprehensive overview of Bacon's art, highlighting his ability to transform internal impulses into vivid, emotional figurative forms.
2. Francis Bacon: Phaidon Focus: This book explores Bacon's dramatic imagery and emotional depth, connecting his work with the influences of old masters.
3. Looking Back at Francis Bacon: A detailed account of Bacon's career, enriched by personal insights from David Sylvester, who knew the artist for over forty years.
4. Francis Bacon: Catalogue Raisonné (WARNING! ABSURDLY EXPENSIVE!): A five-volume collection that showcases the entirety of Bacon’s paintings, including those not available in public exhibitions.

Interested in reading about another artist? Check out this article:

• The Neo-Expressionist Art of Jean-Michel Basquiat: An overview of the life and work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, an American artist born in New York City in 1960.
• Leonardo da Vinci and the Enigmatic Smile of the Mona Lisa: An exploration of the Mona Lisa (1503–1506) and Leonardo da Vinci's contributions to art.
• The Abstract Art of Josef Albers: A look at the life and influence of a key figure in modern art education and abstract art.

This article contains affiliate links to recommended books on Francis Bacon’s art and life. Purchases made through these links support my writing and research at no extra cost to you.