Francis Bacon: Human Presence em National Portrait Gallery, London
The National Portrait Gallery in London is hosting an unprecedented exhibition dedicated to Francis Bacon, one of the most iconic artists of the twentieth century. From October 10, 2024, to January 19, 2025, the exhibition “Francis Bacon: Human Presence” explores the artist's rich and challenging relationship with portraiture, a visual language he redefined throughout his career. The exhibition, organized thematically and chronologically, brings together more than 50 of Bacon's works, including pieces from public and private collections around the world, as well as photographs that capture significant moments and figures from his life.
Francis Bacon (1909-1992) was a British painter born in Dublin, known for his visceral and raw approach to the human figure. His career was marked by powerful works that explore themes of pain, isolation, and mortality, often represented by distorted figures and claustrophobic settings. Although he faced challenges early in his career, Bacon gained notoriety in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. His unmistakable style, which blends inspiration from classical masters with an experimental treatment of form, continues to impact the art world to this day.
LEFT: Henrietta Moraes, 1966 by Francis Bacon, © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2024. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd. Private Collection; RIGHT: Study for Self-Portrait, 1963 by Francis Bacon © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2024. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd. Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
Themes of the Exhibition
Human Presence delves into Bacon's legacy as a figurative painter, known for distorting his subjects' appearances with a unique and vigorous technique that captures not only their features but also the profound and unsettling emotions that shape the human experience. The exhibition presents five distinct phases of Bacon's artistic journey: “Emerging Portraits”, “Beyond Appearance”, “Painting with the Masters”, “Self-Portraits”, and “Friends and Lovers”. Each section reveals how Bacon both embraced and challenged traditional definitions of portraiture, expressing what it means to be alive.
At the outset of the exhibition, visitors encounter Bacon’s early works that explore dark and distressing themes. Head VI (1949) and Study of the Human Head (1953) portray anonymous male figures in conventional portrait formats but in unsettling ways—one, caged within a transparent structure, and the other, with the skull exposed as if in an X-ray. These images symbolize inner conflict and the fragility of the human condition, ideas that Bacon would continue to explore throughout his career.
LEFT: A visitor observes Head of Boy (1960) by Francis Bacon, displayed as part of the exhbition Francis Bacon: Human Presence at National Portrait Gallery, © David Parry; RIGHT: A visitor observes Portrait of a Man Walking Down Steps (1972) by Francis Bacon, displayed as part to the exhbition Francis Bacon: Human Presence at National Portrait Gallery, © David Parry
Influences of the Great Masters
One of the most fascinating aspects of Human Presence is the section dedicated to Bacon's artistic influences, particularly his admiration for the masters Velázquez, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt. Even without seeing Velázquez's Pope Innocent X or Van Gogh's The Painter on the Road to Tarascon in person, Bacon was inspired to reinterpret them in innovative ways. His use of intense colors, inspired by Van Gogh, marks Bacon's transition from a monochromatic palette to more vibrant tones, enriching his approach to portraiture.
The exhibition also highlights Bacon's admiration for Rembrandt's style, especially his 'anti-illustrative' technique. Bacon studied Rembrandt's technique and gestural style, and visitors can see “Self-Portrait with Beret” (1659) displayed alongside Bacon's own interpretations, drawing a connection between the two masters in their shared pursuit of capturing the essence of humanity.
LEFT: Head VI, 1949 by Francis Bacon © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2024. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London; RIGHT: Study of the Human Head, 1953 by Francis Bacon © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved. DACS 2024. Private Collection;
The Intimacy of Self-Portraits
Self-portraiture was a recurring and deeply personal theme in Bacon's work, which he explored over 50 times in various formats, from isolated heads to large triptychs. These works reflect some of the most introspective and somber moments of his life, especially following the loss of loved ones. When Peter Lacy, his longtime partner, passed away in 1962, Bacon created a triptych to memorialize the pain of his absence. Later, in 1973, after the loss of another lover, George Dyer, Bacon painted a self-portrait marked by sadness and isolation, transforming the canvas into a testament to his own vulnerability and mortality.
LEFT: Three Studies for a Portrait of Isabel Rawsthorne, 1965 by Francis Bacon © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2024. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd. Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia; RIGHT: Homage to Van Gogh, 1960 by Francis Bacon © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved. DACS 2024. Gothenburg Museum of Art
Friends, Lovers, and the Human Condition
At the heart of the exhibition are portraits of Bacon's friends and lovers—figures who profoundly influenced his life and work. Among them are Peter Lacy, George Dyer, his later partner John Edwards, and fellow artists like Lucian Freud and Henrietta Moraes. These often-distorted representations capture the depth of Bacon’s relationships and reveal his sensitive, and at times tragic, perception of the human experience. Bacon preferred to work from photographs, frequently commissioned from photographer John Deakin, allowing him the freedom to manipulate and reinvent the image, creating portraits that transcend mere physical likeness.
LEFT: Three Studies of Isabel Rawsthorne, 1967 by Francis Bacon © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2024. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates; RIGHT: Study for a Pope I, 1961 by Francis Bacon © The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage. Photo: Sotheby's. c/o Cingilli Collection;
Parallel Events
To complement the exhibition, the National Portrait Gallery has organized an interactive program of lectures and workshops. Visitors can take part in a workshop on Bacon’s technique of painting from photographs, an essential practice for the artist. Other activities include sign language tours and audio descriptions for blind or visually impaired visitors, as well as lectures exploring specific aspects of his work, such as his relationship with queer culture in the post-war era and the role of photography in his creative process.
The exhibition also features a workshop led by contemporary artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, inspired by Bacon’s work. In this session, participants are invited to create portraits using innovative techniques, offering a unique immersive experience into Bacon’s legacy.
LEFT: Francis Bacon, 1972 by Mayotte Magnus © Mayotte Magnus / National Portrait Gallery, London; RIGHT: Francis Bacon, 1967 by J.S. Lewinski © The Lewinski, Archive at Chatsworth / Bridgeman Images;
LOT-ART SERVICES FOR COLLECTOR
NEW! Best Deals: Bid on highly liquid lots with an estimate below the historical sale price. Make smart investment decisions powered by Market Analytics. Discover Best Deals >>
Market Analytics: Lot-Art big data analytics assess the liquidity, actual value, investment risk and profitability of fine art (contemporary art, modern art, old masters) and luxury collectibles (timepieces), enabling informed investment decisions within a strategy of portfolio diversification. Discover Market Analytics >>
Lot-Art Memberships: Receive Personalized Alerts on your favorite artists and collectibles at auction worldwide to never miss a bid! Subscribe now >>
Lot-Art.com is the world's largest search engine & aggregator of art and collectibles linking to 3800+ auction houses! Find best deals from your favorite artists and brands among 1 million lots for sale every day in our upcoming section >>
LOT-ART | The Art Investment Platform
Lot-Art.com is the largest search engine & aggregator for auctions of art and collectibles linking to 3800+ auction houses! Find best deals from your favorite artists and brands among 1 million lots for sale every day in our upcoming section.
LOT-ART | The Art Investment Platform
contact@lot-art.com
|
|
|
|
|---|
Don't want these emails anymore? |
|
|
|---|
|
