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  • Francis Bacon

  • Later Works, Created After 1970

    Two Figures with a Monkey, 1973

    Oil on canvas

    198cm x 147.5cm

    Later Works

    Created After 1970
    In the later stages of Francis Bacon's career, his work became more introspective, emotional, and refined, continuing to explore the human condition through intense, often disturbing imagery. After gaining prominence in the 1940s and 1950s, Bacon’s later works from the 1970s to the early 1990s reflect a more nuanced development of his earlier themes, isolation, mortality, and suffering.
     
    During this period, Bacon's paintings became somewhat more pared-down in terms of composition. His use of space grew increasingly minimalistic, with his figures often depicted against flat, neutral backgrounds, enhancing the focus on their contorted forms and psychological tension.
  • "The greatest art always returns you to the vulnerability of the human situation"

     

    - Francis Bacon

    This period also marked a shift toward more personal subject matter, especially after the death of his partner George Dyer in 1971. Dyer’s death had a profound impact on Bacon’s work, leading to a series of paintings collectively known as the Black Triptychs (1972–1973), which memorialised Dyer. These works capture a deep sense of loss and grief which were themes throughout his prior career, however these topics were intensified during this period. Bacon's paintings from this era often blend violence and tenderness in surreal, nightmarish settings.
    • Triptych August 1972, 1972 Oil and sand on 3 canvases Each: 78in x 58in Total: 234in x 174in (approx.)

      Triptych August 1972, 1972

      Oil and sand on 3 canvases

      Each: 78in x 58in

      Total: 234in x 174in (approx.)

    • Triptych August 1972, 1972 Oil and sand on 3 canvases Each: 78in x 58in Total: 234in x 174in (approx.)

      Triptych August 1972, 1972

      Oil and sand on 3 canvases

      Each: 78in x 58in

      Total: 234in x 174in (approx.)

    • Study for Female Figure, 1971 Oil on canvas 15.5in x 13in

      Study for Female Figure, 1971

      Oil on canvas

       15.5in x 13in

    • Study from the Human Body (Man Turning on Light), 1973 Oil on canvas 79in x 58in

      Study from the Human Body (Man Turning on Light), 1973

      Oil on canvas 

      79in x 58in
    • Study of Isabel Rawsthorne, 1970 Oil on canvas 14in x 12 in

      Study of Isabel Rawsthorne, 1970

      Oil on canvas

      14in x 12 in

  • Bacon’s final works in the 1980s and early 1990s maintained his dark, existential focus but showed a growing subtlety in...

     

     

    Bacon’s final works in the 1980s and early 1990s maintained his dark, existential focus but showed a growing subtlety in the representation of the human body. The figures in these later pieces, such as Study for a Self-Portrait – Triptych (1985-86), are less physically distorted than those in his earlier work, but they still retain a haunting sense of vulnerability and isolation. His palette became more restrained, and his brushwork more controlled, as if reflecting a more contemplative and reflective outlook on life and death.
     
    In the final phase of his career, Francis Bacon moved toward a quieter, yet still profound approach to his art. His work became more personal and reflective, marked by a deep engagement with themes of loss and mortality. While his style evolved, gaining subtlety and refinement, the emotional intensity remained. Bacon's later works stand as a testament to his enduring exploration of the complexities of the human condition, capturing both the fragility and resilience of life.
    • Study for a Self-Portrait - Triptych, 1985-86 Oil and aerosol paint on canvas Each: 78in x 58in Total: 234in x 174in (approx.)

      Study for a Self-Portrait - Triptych, 1985-86

      Oil and aerosol paint on canvas

      Each: 78in x 58in

      Total: 234in x 174in (approx.)

    • Three Studies for Self-Portrait, 1979 Oil on canvas Each: 14in x 12.5 in Total: 42in x 37.5in (approx.)

      Three Studies for Self-Portrait, 1979

      Oil on canvas

      Each: 14in x 12.5 in

      Total: 42in x 37.5in (approx.)

    • Study for Portrait of Lucian Freud (sideways), 1971 Oil on canvas 77in x 58in

      Study for Portrait of Lucian Freud (sideways), 1971

      Oil on canvas

       77in x 58in

    • The Wrestlers after Muybridge, 1980 Oil, aerosol paint and dry transfer lettering on canvas 78in x 58in

      The Wrestlers after Muybridge, 1980

      Oil, aerosol paint and dry transfer lettering on canvas

      78in x 58in

    • Study for Portrait of John Edwards, 1986 Oil, pastel and aerosol paint on canvas 78in x 58in

      Study for Portrait of John Edwards, 1986

      Oil, pastel and aerosol paint on canvas

       78in x 58in

    • Study from the Human Body, 1987 Oil and aerosol paint on canvas 78in x 58in

      Study from the Human Body, 1987

      Oil and aerosol paint on canvas

      78in x 58in

    • Male Nude before Mirror, 1990 Oil and pastel on canvas 78in x 58 in

      Male Nude before Mirror, 1990

      Oil and pastel on canvas

      78in x 58 in

    • Study of a Bull, 1991 Oil, aerosol paint and dust on canvas 78in x 58in

      Study of a Bull, 1991

      Oil, aerosol paint and dust on canvas

      78in x 58in

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