Francis Bacon: Studies for a Portrait by Michael Peppiatt

by Michael Peppiatt

One of the most elusive and enigmatic creative geniuses of modern times, Francis Bacon was a man of endless contradictions and facets. In this invaluable book Michael Peppiatt, a major art critic and close friend of Bacon’s, offers an entertaining and uniquely well-informed portrait of this complex artist.

 

Peppiatt’s collection of interviews and essays spans more than forty years—from 1963, when the two men met, to 2007, when Peppiatt wrote an essay explaining Bacon’s passionate involvement with Van Gogh. The pieces in between include discussions of Bacon’s working methods and techniques, his unlikely relationship with his London dealer, his attitude toward Christian belief and classical myth, and his defining friendship with the eminent French writer Michel Leiris. Peppiatt also provides fascinating anecdotes about the artist’s early life, his intimate relationships, and his connections with the artists who were his contemporaries and friends. In addition, among the interviews reproduced for the book are new transcripts of two interviews presenting previously omitted material that brings out many little-known aspects of Bacon’s presence and personality.

 

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published November 18, 2008

Reviews

[Hope Fincham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sparked a Bacon obsession in me

[james !! · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good book!! feels far more intimate than other works i’ve read about Bacon due to their close relationship! did somewhat expect a few more ‘formal’ interview sections but the essays & overall knowledge made up for that! feel like this pairs perfectly with David Sylvester’s work with Bacon. lots of great segments about a wide variety of subjects! suitable & enjoyable for pretty much any level of knowledge/interest!

[Tutankhamun18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great book! Essay format means you can pick up and put down again. Many essays on topics more personal to Bacon as a person such as friends of his, or his piercing eyes and so puts his art work within an interesting personal context that is not usually elaborated on by the likes of david sylvester. My favourites, the sacred and the profane expands on his obsession with velasques pope and cruxifiction themes, the legacy of a genius: van gogh and francis bacon is fascinatin in the parallels drawn between the two in their frequent “study of” and obsession for subject matter, and all the pulsations of a person: francis bacons portraits and self portraits beautifully explores “coagulations of non-representational marks which have led to making a great image.”

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly I knew very little about Francis Bacon before reading this, and had decided to add the book to my list due to a different (and unavailable) book of interviews showing up on David Bowie's 75 must-read books. In many ways, this is a pretty standard biography, but Bacon was such a character - gay, lover of drink and food and extravagance, obsessive, and of course often dark that it still makes for an interesting read.