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Peter Hill Beard , North American, 1938-2020

Title

Francis Bacon in his Studio at 7 Reece Mews, London, 1972

Date1972

MediumGelatin silver print

Dimensions

27.9 × 35.6 cm

Credit LinePresented, Nejma Beard in honor of Peter Beard, 2021

Object numberNGI.2021.101

DescriptionThe Gallery’s collection of five photographic prints, depicting Francis Bacon and his studio at 7 Reese Mews in London by celebrated American photographer Peter Beard offer an intimate insight into the working life and environment of Irish artist Francis Bacon. Bacon and Beard first met in 1967. Beard recalled, ‘I was at one of his openings at the Marlborough Gallery in London where he was standing in some kind of reception line and I simply said, “Hi — Peter Beard.” He said, “I know who you are.” It was my very great luck that he had just bought The End of the Game and connected with the doomed pachyderms.’ They quickly became friends and collaborated on multiple occasions, both artists creating portraits of one another. Bacon liked to paint portraits of his sitters from photographs, and he was particularly drawn to individuals with good bone structure; happily, Peter Beard was able to provide both. Bacon painted nine major portraits of Beard and myriad others inspired by his face. Occasionally, Beard sent Bacon photographs of himself to work from and to add to what Beard called Bacon’s ‘compost’ - the thousands of images piled on Bacon’s studio floor – which can be seen in both Francis Bacon’s Studio at 7 Reece Mews, London and Francis Bacon in his Studio at 7 Reece Mews, London. Bacon equally had a strong influence on Beard. As the writer, Terry Southern once described ‘[Beard’s] artistry may be seen as an exquisite synthesis of three major sources: Dutch/Flemish, Picasso/Braque, and, by his own account, the dark savagery of Francis Bacon.’ When viewed together, these works present a fascinating view of Bacon’s celebrated London studio as well as relaxed and intimate portraits of the artist, offering viewers the opportunity to momentarily step into the world of the artist.
ProvenanceThe Estate of Peter Beard; Presented, Nejma Beard in honor of Peter Beard, 2021