Francis Bacon is a self taught figurative painter from Ireland. Known for his figurative paintings he creates filled with raw emotion and graphically bold imagery. Destroying many pieces of his work, virtually none of his earlier work survived.
In conversation Margaret Thatcher once described him as 'the guy who paints those dreadful pictures.' Showing just how much of an impact he had created. Francis Bacon was known for having a dark imagination and an individual style of expression.
He began painting in his 20's up to his 30's. During this time he was known to have worked in interior design. Admitting 'his career was delayed because he had spent too long look for a subject that would sustain his interest.' It was also known that his career was so delayed due to his lifestyle of gambling and drinking.
In 1941 he spent the year creating paintings in Hampshire after being released from the armed forces due to Asthma. On his return to London he met with Lucian Freud. He painted with oil paints using traditional canvases. However, he had always preferred using the rough back of the canvas compared to the finished smooth front.
Even after his death in 1992 Francis Bacon is still inspiring. It was reported that he was one of the inspirations for the new 'Born this way' video created by Lady Gaga. As well as Salvidor Dali.
It was during the 50's that he discovered his distinctive style. The work he created seemed to typically be friends or lovers. Bacon would never paint from life, always from photographs. Developing this mature style with fount imagery such as movie stills or historical photographs. His style was always expressionist with distorted and disgusting human and animals. When looking at the imagery he creates they seem to scream physical and emotional torment all painted in different locations. His painting technique included using his hands as well as rags, using dust along with paints and brushes. Usually working without preliminary sketches, he would use every expressive deformation to convey every feeling of tension.
It was the style of work however, that created his international recognition. In 1949 his first show took place in London at the Hanover gallery. However it wasn't until 1953 that his first solo exhibition took place outside of England.
In 1944 at the end of the war, he exhibited a triptych of three distorted figures at the base of a crucifix painted in a violent orange colour. The figures seem to be howling desperately. This was his the first image that was set to secure his reputation in the art world and was noted to be the beginning of his career in art. The vertical lines in this piece of work is a technique called shuttering.
Portrait of Pope Innocent X, this painting originates from the spanish artist Diego Velazquez who painted the original version of the pope in 1650. Francis Bacon adapted his own traditional style by making all his paintings gruesome and violent. The painting looks like oil paints onto canvas. It looks abstract as if Francis Bacon was lashing at the canvas with his brushes. It shows a large amount of emotional terror and pain as he created Pope Innocent X screaming as if he was in agony. When asked about why he was so interested in replicating the original image Bacon simply replied saying ' he wanted the excuse to use the colour purple without being accused of being a fauvist. Fauvism was a short lived group of early 20th century artists who used emphisis on strong colours in expressionism and realism.
Looking through various pieces of his work it is clear to see that he is reminding us that very little in art is fixed and 'that we should all be ready to turn on a dime.' His work has left a huge mark in the history of art and the violence and pain shown in his work is one of the things that makes his work appealing to so many viewers. His work creates such depth that it leaves many wondering what Francis Bacons' emotions actually were when he was painting.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0140513000?ie=UTF8&tag=leninimports0e&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0140513000
http://www.leninimports.com/francis_bacon_bio.html
http://www.leninimports.com/francis_bacon_biography2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Bacon_(artist)
http://painting.about.com/od/artmuseums/gr/Tate_Bacon.htm
http://baconian.page.tl/
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/irish-artists/francis-bacon.htm
http://kriseyes.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/pope_innocent_x-bacon_velasquez.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment