Francis Bacon in Dublin
Category: Books,Arts & Photography
Francis Bacon in Dublin Details
Bacon's powerful and disturbing images of the human figure have had a profound impact on the art of the 20th century. This catalogue features examples of his work from all periods, with some 60 canvases presented, mainly in colour. Read more
Reviews
Francis Bacon remains one of the more fascinating artists of our time, and while many important, elegant, erudite and valuable books have been written about this enigmatic man, this volume simply titled FRANCIS BACON IN DUBLIN, offers insights into the artist and his technique and life as well as any. Yes, it is essentially a museum catalogue for a major exhibition in Dublin in 2000, but it is far more than a competent catalogue.There is little about Francis Bacon that has not been addressed in previous books, at times very well indeed, so the reader should not expect to uncover much new imagery here. What makes this book so very impressive is the quality: the four essays investigating Bacon's past, his world views, his personal life, his impact on 20th century art as written by Grey Gowrie, Louis le Brocquy, Anthony Cronin Paul Durcan and David Sylvester are immensely readable and learned; the uncovering of the valuable secrets of Bacon’s Dublin Studio by Barbara Dawson, the section of works on paper in addition to the chronology constructed are stylish and accurate: the quality of reproductions of the paintings in the book are some of the richest four color separation images available.Many paintings illustrated in this anthology that are less well known to the general public than the famous triptychs and the Pope series, and to see these lesser known works in such vivid color is remarkable. For this reader the collection of drawings and photomontages that served as the nidus for Bacon's imagination and resultant paintings is one of the best available and these are presented in such a way that Bacon's art is more approachable than other books have attempted. Recommended without reservation, no matter how many other volumes about this important artist are in the library! Grady Harp, July 18