Critical Analysis - Francis Bacon

Francis Bacon was born in Dublin, Ireland on 28^th October 1909 to two English parents. He later moved to London at the age of sixteen, and then furthermore lived in Paris and Berlin for another two years. As an artist he was chiefly known for his figurative paintings in a graphic and emotionally raw style. The abstract figures he painted were more often than not isolated in cages or boxes against bland, flat backdrops. Bacon's dramatic and exciting work gained international recognition and acclaim. His first major show took place at the Hanover Gallery, London, in 1949. His first solo exhibition outside England was held in 1953 at Durlacher Brothers, New York.

The first piece that I was drawn to is called 'Portrait of Pope Innocent X'. The image was originally painted by the Spanish artist Diego Velazquez, who painted the original version of the Pope in 1650. It is not of any culture, but Bacon said he wanted an excuse to use those colours. It belongs to no tradition, but in my own opinion, Bacon adopted his own tradition by making all his paintings violent and gruesomely misshapen. The painting looks like acrylic paint on a canvas, but at the same time the paints are rugged and harsh like oil pastel or charcoal. It's an abstract piece, and it gives the impression that the artist was lashing at the canvas with his paintbrushes. The painting just looks really violent. There is the figure of the Pope sitting bolt upright with his face in an angry blur screaming in horror, And his figure is sat on what used to be a throne, but the base has blurred and disappeared into what looks like light. I presume it could possibly be an anti-religion piece as the light is swallowing up the pope. And his lack of legs, with just the white cloth in place gives the automatic assumption of a ghostly figure. That with his demonic face further asserts the image of something far from human. I like the way the painting looks like it has aged with the colours running down the canvas and this has a positive effect on the immortal image, with the classic catholic colours to assure you that this indeed resembles the Pope. 

The mangled features and almost inhuman colours in this portrait are made in the same way as his portrait of the Pope. The way the muscles and bones in his face are stressed to show the movement and colours look almost as if his skin has been removed from his face and the snatomy of his head is shining through. The dark crimson and blues once again reflect the tones within muscle structure but could also show bruising. Bruises perhaps relieving something of his self in that he has scars hidden but he can only express them through his artwork. The menacing style of art is a constant in his portfolio and it is very recognisable upon viewing, that it is his work.

In conclusion, Francis Bacon is a figurative painter who captures the raw essence of the human form. In all it’s grit.

And it is clear that his authoritive stamp on the world of art has influenced a lot of other painters, and many more to come.