107

Francis Bacon (1909-1992)

Recent Paintings (1968-1974). Inscribed by Peter Beard.

New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1975.
First edition, oblong quarto; inscribed and twice signed by Bacon's muse, friend, and collaborator, photographer Peter Beard (1938-2020), "For Suzan with warmest thoughts and regards as ever" alongside a small drawing of a head with a speech bubble in red felt tip pen on the first page of the introduction and again on the first page of the interview section, where he writes "for a dead-ele book in the works—like 1984 MOMA"; bound in black wrappers lettered in gray, front wrapper die-cut to reveal color self-portrait (minor marginal toning throughout; waving from dampstain and a corner crease to upper edge of front wrapper, small tear to cut-out edge, rubbed at corners); 8 ½ x 10 ½ in.

Francis Bacon and Peter Beard first met at a gallery opening in 1957. They became fast friends, brought together by their shared personal and artistic motivations. Bacon was particularly inspired by Beard's famous aerial photographs depicting decomposing African elephant carcasses. They were massively influential on his meditations on death and decomposition: "For me, the most poignant are the ones of decomposing elephants where, over time, as they disintegrate, the bones form magnificent sculptures, which are not just abstract forms, but have all the memory traces of life's futility and despair." Bacon painted nine major portraits of Beard during his career and used his likeness for many other works. Upon his death in 1992, his apartment contained more than 200 of Beard's photographs, signifying their lasting connection and collaboration.

In 1972, the Beard conducted a series of interviews with Bacon in which they discuss how Beard's photographs influenced his painting dubbed, the "Dead Elephant Interviews." Excerpts from these interviews appear in this catalogue for the first time. 

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    Devon Eastland, Senior Specialist: [email protected]
    Grace Meschery-McCormack, Cataloguer: [email protected]


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