The Royal Academy of Arts is currently hosting the exhibition on the work of Francis Bacon (1909–1992), recognised as one of the most important artists of the twentieth century.
Bacon: Man and Beast includes 46 paintings spanning his career from the earliest works of the 1930s to the last that he made in 1991. A trio of paintings of bullfights are shown together for the first time. This exhibition outlines the artist’s work through the lens of his fascination with animals, and how this influenced the vision of his ultimate subject: the human figure.
Here is the insightful review by Fleur Tookey, FPSAD:
The new Francis Bacon exhibition at the Royal Academy is a wonderful contrast to the closing one of Constable’s late work. Both are masters of brush work and colour, but how different the results. Bacon pours out his heart and fury onto the canvas . Constable describes with loving clarity a long lost countryside, and brooding English skies.
You can’t hide from Bacon. It’s like being in a boxing ring with someone determined to engage you with his feelings on war, sex and religion. Aggressively emotional but beautiful too, the textures, particular richness of colour and bold compositions are breathtaking. The show is called Bacon, Man and Beast and the artist translates the ferocity or pain that animals often display when threatened, into visual human passion.
Opening times: Tues–Sun: 10am–6pm
Tickets £22–24.50. Concessions available. To be pre-booked (this includes Friends of the RA)
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/
Take a look at the inspiring collection of photographs from the exhibition by Marcy Richardson, Friends of PSAD
