Muriel Belcher; Francis Bacon
1 portrait of Francis Bacon
© Peter Stark
Muriel Belcher; Francis Bacon
by Peter Stark
cibachrome print, 1975
6 1/2 in. x 9 5/8 in. (166 mm x 243 mm)
Given by Peter Stark, 1976
Photographs Collection
NPG x1529
Sittersback to top
- Francis Bacon (1909-1992), Painter. Sitter in 47 portraits.
- Muriel Belcher (1910-1978), Founder of The Colony Room. Sitter in 2 portraits.
This portraitback to top
The afternoon this photograph was taken, Bacon had invited a group to lunch at Wheeler's, the Soho seafood restaurant, frequented by the group of artists that included Bacon, Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach. The photographer Peter Stark had met Bacon a couple of years previously, and they shared a passion for poetry. Stark recalls that Bacon, ' was in a good mood. I remember him telling the waiter that he had won £3,000 at a casino the night before and the waiter replied 'At that rate, you'll soon be able to afford one of your own paintings', and everyone laughed'. The picture shows Bacon talking to Muriel Belcher, founding owner of The Colony Room, where Bacon often spent the rest of the day drinking. Bacon painted her portrait several times.
Placesback to top
- Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: England, London (Wheeler's Restaurant, Old Compton Street, Soho, London)
Events of 1975back to top
Current affairs
Britain votes to remain part of the European Economic Community. In the Labour government's referendum, 67% of voters answered 'yes' to the question 'Do you think the UK should stay in the European Community (Common Market)?'Art and science
The rock band Queen release their epic single Bohemian Rhapsody which reaches Number 1 in the pop charts and stays there for nine weeks. It is the only single to have been a Christmas Number 1 twice, due to its re-release in 1991 following Freddie Mercury's death, and the promotional video is often regarded as the first real music video.International
The communist organisation, Khymer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, takes over Cambodia renaming it Democratic Kampuchea. Khymer Rouge began its policy of forcible relocating the urban population to the countryside and brutally purging those sectors of society considered by Pol Pot to be a potential threat to the revolution: Buddhist monks, people with education, disabled people, and ethnic minorities.Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.