Francis Bacon (born October 28, 1909 – died April 28, 1992) – British master of expressionism, one of the most ambiguous and brutal artists of the 20th century. The work of Francis Bacon is called shocking – the most frightening creations of human fantasy come to life in his works.

Francis Bacon did not receive an academic education. At the same time, he is incredibly in demand and popular. The master’s paintings are the ultimate dream of both private galleries and the most famous world museums, which are not at all averse to getting his works in their collections. Some of the artist’s masterpieces are worth tens of millions of dollars and are included in the lists of the most expensive works of art.

Biography of Francis Bacon

Bacon Francis Bacon was born on April 28, 1909 in Dublin, Ireland. The baby was born into a not very wealthy family. It is believed that one of the ancestors of the future artist was his namesake – the famous philosopher and politician of the 17th century.

The boy’s father, a former military man, a domestic tyrant and despot, kept his offspring in strictness and raised him using very harsh methods. The relationship was never warm. But they finally became complicated when Bacon Sr. discovered his son’s penchant for dressing up as a woman. This happened in 1922. Four years later, the homosexual predilections of the future artist became so indisputable that the puritan father kicked Francis out of the house. It is curious that in Great Britain until 1967, homosexuality was considered a criminal offense.

After leaving his parents’ home, the future master spent several years in the European capitals – Berlin and Paris. In 1927, he was lucky enough to visit the Parisian exhibition of Pablo Picasso. Acquaintance with the work of the great Spaniard became significant – impressed and enchanted by him, Bacon decided to take up painting. In Paris, the future genius worked as an interior designer. This profession would later give him the opportunity to earn a piece of bread in London, where he returned at the beginning of 1929. In the 30s of the 20th century, the artist painted a lot, but the paintings did not find a response from the public.

Under the influence of failures, Francis Bacon even decided to destroy his works. Success came to the master only in 1944. His triptych “Three Studies of the Approaching Crucifixion” provoked a stormy reaction from critics, became the object of attention of galleries. The influence of Picasso is clearly visible in this work. Bacon himself considers it his first mature work, which can already be presented to connoisseurs – unlike his earlier drawings. In 1953, the then owner of the “Studies” Eric Hall donated them to the Tate Britain.

From then on, the fame of the master only grew: he was called the greatest of British painters, his works were applauded, feared, and fabulous sums were paid for them. Margaret Hilda Thatcher called Bacon’s masterpieces “terrible”, while the artist himself claimed that it was not his paintings that were terrible, but his life itself.

Francis Bacon led a rather dissolute lifestyle. In the late 80s of the 20th century, his health began to deteriorate, and in 1989 he lost a kidney. In 1992, the artist went to Madrid, where he died of a heart attack on April 28.