On Freud and Bacon

You may know that, according to auction sale prices, Lucian Freud (b. 1922) is currently the most expensive living artist. You may also know that Francis Bacon (1909-1992) is rocketing up the most expensive deceased modern artist charts. What I--and, possibly, you--didn't know was that these two British painters were great friends from their first meeting in 1945 until Bacon's death. Francis painted Lucian numerous times; Lucian got Francis to sit for him exactly twice.

This brings us to the image above, Freud's second and final portrait of his friend. The painting is significant on many levels. It represents the then-new style Freud has employed ever since, with thick brushstrokes and blocks of color depicting human flesh. It depicts a moment in time where these two men sat knee-to-knee--a testament to their friendship, for it was extremely difficult for Bacon to sit still for any reason. (Indeed, it is supposed to be unfinished because Bacon abruptly left London to pursue an errant lover.) It is redolent with the respect and admiration the younger Freud had for an important influence. Not least significant, it is coming up at auction on October 19, 2008 at the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale, Christie's King Street, London showroom. Unfinished or not, the Freud/Bacon connection has affixed a pre-sale estimate of £5 million to £7 million on this piece.

Related Reading:

• Legendary Soho Artists' Bar May Be Closing - Guardian Online
• Damien Hirst on Francis Bacon (and Lucian Freud, somewhat) - Guardian Online
• The Francis Bacon I Knew - by art critic Brian Sewell
• Francis Bacon Retrospective - opening September 11 at Tate Britain

Image credit:

Lucian Freud (British, b. 1922)
Portrait of Francis Bacon, 1956-57
Oil on canvas
14 x 14 in. (35.5 x 35.5 cm)
© Lucian Freud
Photo: Christie's Images Ltd. 2008