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Francis Bacon

(1909-1992), Painter

Sitter in 47 portraits
Dublin-born Bacon left Ireland at the age of sixteen, settling permanently in England in 1928. The work Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion (1944, Tate) established him as an artist of international importance. Bacon used imagery from sources as diverse as Velasquez, Van Gogh, the cinema, old snapshots and illustrations of disease. Known for his bold, abstracted figurative paintings with their tormented and powerful view of the human condition, Bacon describes them as 'a direct assault on the nervous system.' His international reputation was confirmed by retrospectives at the Guggenheim Museum, New York (1963) and Grand Palais, Paris (1971).

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Francis Bacon, by Reginald Gray - NPG 5135

Francis Bacon

by Reginald Gray
oil on board, 1960
NPG 5135

Francis Bacon, by Irving Penn - NPG P587

Francis Bacon

by Irving Penn
platinum palladium print, 1962
NPG P587

Francis Bacon, by Clive Barker - NPG 5844

Francis Bacon

by Clive Barker
gilt bronze mask, 1969
On display in Room 32 on Floor 1 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5844

'Heads', by Peter Gidal - NPG 6827

'Heads'

by Peter Gidal
16mm silent, black and white film, 1969
On display in Room 28 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6827

Francis Bacon, by John Hedgecoe - NPG P158

Francis Bacon

by John Hedgecoe
platinum print, 1970
NPG P158

Francis Bacon, by Arnold Newman - NPG P150(3)

Francis Bacon

by Arnold Newman
bromide print, 1975
NPG P150(3)

Francis Bacon, by Dmitri Kasterine - NPG P1321

Francis Bacon

by Dmitri Kasterine
modern bromide print from original negative, 2009, based on a work of 1978
NPG P1321

Francis Bacon, by Clare Shenstone - NPG 6424

Francis Bacon

by Clare Shenstone
conté, circa 1982
NPG 6424

Francis Bacon, by Ruskin Spear - NPG 5818

Francis Bacon

by Ruskin Spear
oil on board, 1984
NPG 5818

Francis Bacon, by Neil Libbert - NPG P760

Francis Bacon

by Neil Libbert
bromide print, 1989
NPG P760

Francis Bacon, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x14018

Francis Bacon

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1951
NPG x14018

Francis Bacon, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40008

Francis Bacon

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 1951
NPG x40008

John Rothenstein; Francis Bacon, by Herbert K. Nolan - NPG x24190

John Rothenstein; Francis Bacon

by Herbert K. Nolan
bromide print, March 1957
NPG x24190

Francis Bacon, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40010

Francis Bacon

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, January 1960
NPG x40010

Francis Bacon, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x40009

Francis Bacon

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, January 1960
NPG x40009

Alberto Giacometti; Francis Bacon, by Graham Keen - NPG x199752

Alberto Giacometti; Francis Bacon

by Graham Keen
modern bromide print from original negative, July 1965
NPG x199752

Francis Bacon, by J.S. Lewinski - NPG x13707

Francis Bacon

by J.S. Lewinski
bromide print on card mount, 1967
NPG x13707

Francis Bacon, by Michael Pergolani - NPG x135972

Francis Bacon

by Michael Pergolani
bromide print, May 1970
NPG x135972

Francis Bacon, by Unknown photographer - NPG x184158

Francis Bacon

by Unknown photographer
bromide press print, July 1970
NPG x184158

Francis Bacon, by Francis Goodman - NPG x195471

Francis Bacon

by Francis Goodman
twelve 2 1/4 inch square film negatives, May 1971
NPG x195471

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