Francis Bacon was born to English parents living in Ireland in 1909. He was a British figurative artist known for his audacious, grotesque and emotionally charged imagery. He travelled to Germany and France and then settled in London and began his art career as a self-taught artist. Taking inspiration from Surrealism, film, photography and the Old Masters, he created his own distinct style which made him one of the most acknowledged exponents of figurative art in the ’40s and ’50s. He always portrayed his subjects as viciously distorted and isolated persons who are suffering from existential problems.

‘Three Studies of Lucian Freud’ triptych (a panel painting that is divided into three sections), (1969), oil on canvas, 78 inches × 58 inches for each canvas, depicts fellow artist Lucian Freud. They were close friends but artistic rivals, and Bacon and Freud painted each other a number of times. The triptych is owned by Elaine Wynn and was sold for $142.4 million in November 2013, which at that time was the maximum price attained at an auction for an artwork. —M.Z.A

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, May 29th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.