FRANCIS GIACOBETTI (b.1939)

Giacobetti had long admired the work of Francis Bacon. When he eventually met Bacon in 1991, the artist was most co-operative with the photographer's requests. These led to a substantial and revelatory filmed interview and to Bacon's generous, collaborative participation in an extended photographic portrait session. Giacobetti used the series of sittings to create a sequence of metaphorical, evocative studies that captured the essence and aura of the painter rather than simply his physiognomy. The resulting pictures -- the last significant portraits of Bacon before his death in April 1992 -- were first shown in a dedicated exhibition at the Marlborough Fine Art gallery in London in 2003.

This print is from an edition of 3.