First Previous 6 OF 47 NextLast

Francis Bacon

6 of 47 portraits of Francis Bacon

© Arnold Newman / Getty Images

2 Likes voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

Francis Bacon

by Arnold Newman
bromide print, 1975
18 3/8 in. x 12 3/8 in. (468 mm x 315 mm)
Given by The Sunday Times, 1980
Primary Collection
NPG P150(3)

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Arnold Newman (1918-2006), Photographer. Artist or producer of 62 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Many of Bacon's photographers preferred to photograph Bacon in his studio, often including the extraordinary paint encrusted walls and the piles of magazine cuttings and photographs that accumulated on the floor. When Newman visited Bacon's Reece Mews studio, he captured something different, 'It was partially planned, partially an accident. While I was. . . getting him into position he moved under the light. I said 'Please stay there!' and quickly took my exposure'. This portrait was later included in the National Portrait Gallery's 1979 exhibition of Newman's work, 'The Great British'.

Related worksback to top

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Perry, George, The Great British: Photographs by Arnold Newman, 1979 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 30 November 1979 - 11 May 1980), p. 49
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 27

Placesback to top

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.