On The Trail Of Francis Bacon

THE TIMES ART BOOK OF THE YEAR Named one of The Irish Times' Books of the Year for 2021 A compelling and comprehensive look at the life and art of Francis Bacon, one of the iconic painters of the twentieth century—from the Pulitzer Prize-winning authors of de Kooning: An American Master. This intimate study of the singularly private, darkly funny, eruptive man and his extraordinary art “is bejeweled with sensuous detail … the iconoclastic charm of the artist keeps the pages turning” (The Washington Post). “A definitive life of Francis Bacon ... Stevens and Swan are vivid scene setters ... Francis Bacon does justice to the contradictions of both the man and the art.” —The Boston Globe Francis Bacon created an indelible image of mankind in modern times, and played an outsized role in both twentieth century art and life—from his public emergence with his legendary Triptych 1944 (its images "so unrelievedly awful" that people fled the gallery), to his death in Madrid in 1992. Bacon was a witty free spirit and unabashed homosexual at a time when many others remained closeted, and his exploits were as unforgettable as his images. He moved among the worlds of London's Soho and East End, the literary salons of London and Paris, and the homosexual life of Tangier. Through hundreds of interviews, and extensive new research, the authors probe Bacon's childhood in Ireland (he earned his father's lasting disdain because his asthma prevented him from hunting); his increasingly open homosexuality; his early design career—never before explored in detail; the formation of his vision; his early failure as an artist; his uneasy relationship with American abstract art; and his improbable late emergence onto the international stage as one of the great visionaries of the twentieth century. In all, Francis Bacon: Revelations gives us a more complete and nuanced--and more international--portrait than ever before of this singularly private, darkly funny, eruptive man and his equally eruptive, extraordinary art. Bacon was not just an influential artist, he helped remake the twentieth-century figure.

This is a photographic portrait of painter Francis Bacon's south London studio in the days following his death. A visual statement of Bacon's frenetic life and work. 60 photos.

Be calm good wind, blow not a word away for this is a meticulous account of Sir Francis Bacon's lifetime, written as journal entries, and with his style: I have no more made my book, than my book has made me: 'tis a book consubstantial with the author, of a peculiar design, a member of my life, and whose business is not designed for others, as that of all other books.

This book offers a comprehensive and unitary study of the philosophy of Francis Bacon, with special emphasis on the medical, ethical and political aspects of his thought. It presents an original interpretation focused on the material conditions of nature and human life. In particular, coverage in the book is organized around the unifying theme of Bacon’s notion of appetite, which is considered in its natural, ethical, medical and political meanings. The book redefines the notions of experience and experiment in Bacon’s philosophy of nature, shows the important presence of Stoic themes in his work as well as provides an original discussion of the relationships between natural magic, prudence and political realism in his philosophy. Bringing together scholarly expertise from the history of philosophy, the history of science and the history of literature, this book presents readers with a rich and diverse contextualization of Bacon’s philosophy.

- A thoroughly illustrated monograph of Francis Bacon by a personal friend of the artist- An exceptional collection of Bacon imagery, reproduced to the highest quality- Approximately 160 images, including major works such as Three Studies for a Crucifixion, assembled in a beautifully designed book- Biographical information presented alongside in-depth art analysisAn intimate insight into the life and work of Francis Bacon, written by Yves Peyré, a close friend of the artist. This comprehensive monograph details Bacon's artistic journey, from his early design work in the 1920s to his disturbing, emotive triptychs of the 1980s. Tormented, twisted, and jarringly dissonant, Bacon's divided vision of the world swung between civilization and barbarism, beauty and ugliness, life and death. His study of classical culture and western mythology led him to depict darkly sublime worlds of violence and madness that intrigue as much as they evoke visceral disgust. This monograph begins with a biography, relating the life of Francis Bacon, his stories and inspirations; before delving into a sharp analysis of his work. Peyré's personal connection with Bacon makes Francis Bacon a detailed and touching story, inviting the reader on a philosophical, poetic and artistic stroll through the artist's mind.