Peter Hill Beard
, North American, 1938-2020
Title
Francis Bacon at 7 Reece Mews, London, during the Dead Elephant Interviews, 1972Date1972
MediumGelatin silver print
Dimensions
35.6 × 27.9 cm
Credit LinePresented, Nejma Beard in honor of Peter Beard, 2021
Object numberNGI.2021.103
DescriptionPerhaps the most intimate portrait if Francis Bacon in the Gallery collection of photographic prints by Peter Beard, is Francis Bacon at 7 Reece Mews, London, during the Dead Elephant Interviews in which the artist is seen in profile, adopting the posture of Rodin’s Thinker. The image is devoid of the usual chaos of Bacon’s studio and the viewer is presented with the man rather than the ‘myth of the artist’. Expert knowledge of rendering light and darkness on film comes to life in this work, as Bacon appears to emerge out of the shadows of his studio during a moment of deep thought. This portrait, along with the four other artworks by Beard pictured above, were made in 1972 when Peter Beard interviewed Francis Bacon in what came to be called the ‘Dead Elephant Interviews,’ excerpts of which were published under this name as part of the catalogue for Bacon’s 1975 show at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. Only Bacon’s responses to Beard’s questions are printed in the catalogue, but the tone of Bacon’s speech is remarkable for the fact that an open and curious exchange of ideas replaces his usual confident rhetorical air.ProvenanceThe Estate of Peter Beard; Presented, Nejma Beard in honor of Peter Beard, 2021