Francis Bacon (British, 1909-1992)

Paintings

Who is painter Francis Bacon?

Francis Bacon was one of Britain’s best figurative painters of the 20th century. An enigmatic character, Bacon’s pieces were often dark, twisted, and dealt with the harsher aspects of humanity. Often words like “feverish” or “nightmare” are used to describe his art. That said, Bacon had widespread success since the 1950s and his paintings have been featured in museums around the US since at least that time. Influenced by the seminal works of 19th-century photographer, Edward Muybridge, Bacon’s pieces often featured his subjects in torment, their faces an abstract mask of anguish.

Even with this surprising choice of subject matter, Bacon’s popularity did nothing but increase over the next few decades. By 1989, Bacon was the highest-selling living artist in the world, at the time his selling of The Popes and Large Tryptychs sold for over six million dollars. These prices would continue even after his death in 1992. His piece Study for Portrait II (1956) sold for 27.5 million in 2007. His work is featured in many collections and has been exhibited in countless galleries including the Hanover Gallery, the Marlborough Fine Art Gallery, and the Grand Palais.

What kind of art does Francis Bacon make?

Francis Bacon was a figurative painter and abstract artist whose work heavily deals with the Crucifixion, Catholic Popes, and other religious motifs. His figures are famously found often in reclining positions, a characteristic that the artist has said was influenced by the nude figures in Michelangelo’s sculptures. His composition was also famously influenced by the work of Eadweard Muybridge’s chronophotography. Bacon was known as a perfectionist, and even though the artist completed untold numbers of works during his lifetime, it is said that he destroyed many more. He was aligned for a time with the Marlborough Fine Art gallery - from 1958 until 1992 - who famously paid him in advance of current and future paintings by the inch.

How did painter Francis Bacon get started?

Francis Bacon was born on October 28th, 1909 in Dublin, Ireland. His father was an Australian sea captain and his mother was heiress to a Sheffield coal mine. They moved several times throughout Bacon’s youth but eventually settled in Ireland after the First World War. Bacon would live with his grandmother and step-grandfather for a large portion of his childhood. As an adult, Bacon traveled the world, living in London, Berlin, and several other European cities. His first big painting introduction to the public came in 1933, when his work, Crucifixion (1932) was displayed. Though it wasn’t an initial success, it did lay the groundwork for many of the aesthetic choices that Bacon would adhere to for the rest of his career.

How much are Francis Bacon paintings worth?

Francis Bacon paintings can be worth anywhere from $3,000 for a minor work to over $140,000,000 for a major one. His most valuable painting at auction is Three Studies of Lucian Freud (1969) which sold for $142,405,000 on November 12th, 2013. For Heritage Auctions, the highest-selling painting at auction is the colored lithograph, Study for Self-Portrait 1982 (1984) which sold on November 14th, 2015 for $9,375.

Where to buy Francis Bacon paintings for sale?

See works for sale below. Why buy from Heritage? Art buyers feel confident because our experts know the market and put careful valuations on artwork for sale. We make the bidding process easier to help you expand your art collection.

How to value Francis Bacon paintings?

The best way to value art is to compare past auction prices for similar works. View past sale prices below. When you’re ready to sell, contact Heritage Auctions to request an auction estimate of the likely selling price at auction. If you need a formal written appraisal for estate planning or insurance, please contact our Appraisal Services Department.