Talk:Francis Bacon (artist)

Was he gay?

I wouldn't usually care about a person's sexual orientation, but being someone unfamiliar with the artist and reading through the article, it seems contributors and literature have been very implicit towards this topic to the point of refusing to approach it in a straightforward manner or trying to hide the fact. But this only serves to create a lot of ambiguity and confusion, even if no one knows for sure this should be made clear? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 116.15.74.154 (talk) 10:53, 28 July 2008 (UTC)

What movement was Bacon really a part of?

In "The Colony Room" section, the sentence that David Sylvester was wrong in..."but had erroneously perceived it to be a form of Expressionism" needs to be cited. The MoMA, where Painting is located, refers to Bacon as a Post-War Expressionist.* In this article, he is cited as a figurative painter, which doesn't describe his work well enough. Searching around, too, he is repeatedly referred to as either an Abstract Expressionist or a Post-War Expressionist.

• Here is the PDF from the MoMA:

http://www.moma.org/about_moma/press/2004/P_S_Main.pdf

Jeni Mc 16:14, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Francis Bacon should definitely not be listed as a "figurative" painter. In his interviews with David Sylvester, "The Brutality of Fact: Interviews with Francis Bacon 1962-1979" (New York: Thames and Hudson, 1987), he is quite critical of figurative art. Figurative art is representational art. Bacon is not a representational artist. The difference between figural and figurative is brought out by Jean-François Lyotard in his "Libidinal Economy" as well as in Gilles Deleuze's book on Bacon, "Francis Bacon: The Logic of Sensation." Figurative relates to narrative. Bacon's art does not seek to tell a story or narrate. He is a figural artist or an abstract artist, but not a figurative one. Lemomo (talk) 18:08, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

Bacon defined himself as a figurative painter in the 1985 South Bank Show special (at about 6.30 in this clip). Nic Dafis (talk) 12:28, 31 August 2008 (UTC)

A note on title/date forms

I have used the title form

Painting. 1946

throughout. This is preferable to

Painting (1946)

since (although not part of the title) the date is crucial in distinguishing it from

Painting. 1950

for instance, and is not a mere adjunct.

Painting, 1946

is wrong as the title is "Painting". The forms

Painting, 1946

and

Painting 1946

are also correct but less clear. If applied it should be done throughout the article to avoid confusion. -- User:82.43.154.23 03:21, 27 September 2005

Well I agree that the style should be consistent. I suspect that it isn't something that is covered by the Manual of Style yet. In general I prefer the second form, however, it is a subject that is better discussed at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Visual arts, since this would apply to many arts related articles. -- Solipsist 08:47, 27 September 2005 (UTC)

The second form seems to be the 'house style' here. I would argue for a special case to be allowed for the MoMA painting, which is spoken of as "Painting 1946" even though the title is "Painting". I propose that the last form, which is that of the 1964 catalogue raisonné, be used in this case. 82.43.154.23 13:46, 27 September 2005 (UTC)

On reflection, I have brought Painting (1946) into conformity with the rest of the article. 82.43.154.23 12:39, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

There could well be a case for making an exception for some paintings with generic names. It can be particularly tricky to identify the work of some modern artists who steadfastly refuse to title their work anything other than 'untitled' — especially when they are likely to have done several 'untitled's in the same year. I often see Roman numerals being applied in such cases, for example

Untitled IX (1992), oil on canvas.

but I have never been sure whether its the artist or the gallery who added the Roman numerals.

Similar problems occur with many medieval canvases where several titles might apply (most of them derived from different sources at much later dates). In those cases the size of the painting is also usually used to help identify a specific painting.

My impression is that the most common long format when refering to works of art is;

Artist, Title, (date) width x height, medium, collection.

but you still see plenty of variations. -- Solipsist 15:59, 28 September 2005 (UTC)

Title

When I entered Francis Bacon in Wiki search, only the 17thC. philosopher came up - needs disambiguation.--shtove 23:24, 10 October 2005 (UTC)

Hmmmm

I think the Biographical detail is fantastic, but it abruptly stops in the early 50's, and I don't think that someone learning about Bacon for the first time would want to wade through the words that lead up to influences...he was an artist...and there is little discussion of technique... User:Gareth E Kegg 22:49, 19 October 2005

Thank-you for my share of the compliment, but I have only been revising this article since 21/9/05. I do plan to go on into the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and summarize the 1980s and 1990s as well; I plan to have a section on his technique, one on the interviews with Sylvester, and a separate article on the estate. Please do go ahead and start any of these you are able and willing to. The point is well made about a neopyhte coming to this article, but, a few pictures of major works, of Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion and Painting (1946) in particular, would help. Copyright is with the Estate but may be judged 'fair use' in this context(?). The 'Contents' near the top of the article allows anyone to skip the earlier sections without the need to wade.(82.43.154.23 01:47, 20 October 2005 (UTC))

At some point in the early/mid 50s, Bacon bought a house in Queen's Road in the village of Wivenhoe, Essex. I recall Nicholas Butler writing about this in his book, "The Story of Wivenhoe", but unfortunately my copy has gone walkabout. Does anyone have further details? Daen 15:02, 4 April 2006 (UTC)

I found it - it was a one-line reference from the Wivenhoe Town Council guide to the village from 1993, not Nick Butler. Wirth-Miller lived in the village in the early 50s, and Bacon spent time in a "holiday cottage" in Queen's Road. Daen 13:56, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I was surprised there was no mention of Bacon's homosexuality, save an oblique reference in a footnote, in this article. Perhaps this would be an appropriate area to expand upon, at least in passing in the painter's basic history.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Catachrestic (talk • contribs) 00:10, 18 May 2006 (UTC).

There is a mention of his relationship with George Dyer in the "Later Life" section. Jeni Mc 15:55, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Feature article?

I think this is a great article. Though "Bacon's legacy" could be expanded... Selfinformation 17:35, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

Theres one thing as too much info and optimal infomation, after a quick review i find the article to be a little indulgent and giving perhaps too much info that is not properly placed or ordered. Certainly not optimal information me thinks.

Restructure

I'd like to move the discussion of specific painting to dedicated articles, leaving this page for purely biographical info. I think this is a great article as is, but perhalps could be expanded into an excellent FB category. --Coil00 23:57, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

Question about grammar in intro paragraph

He also created "an" portrait of Michele Leiris? Surely this is incorrect, or is there some obscure "an" rule I am overlooking?

"Anglo-Irish"

I object to the term Anglo-Irish being used in the opening paragraph.By that logic Oasis and most members of the Beatles should be classified as Hiberno-Saxon. Ireland has suffered enough devision and fragmenation.A note in the biographical section stating that Bacon was of English parentage should suffice. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 89.101.222.28 (talk) 21:15, 6 April 2007 (UTC).

I think its fine, by every definition of the term Bacon was Anglo-Irish. He was born in Dublin to Protestant English parents who often travelled back and forth between the two islands. The term is widely used, and not in the least derogatory. Ceoil 19:28, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Let's call him British and everybody will be happy on the other side of the island!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.157.15.81 (talk) 21:38, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

• The trouble is Anglo-Irish has an established meaning whichy fits Bacon very well, whereas Hiberno-Saxon has one which doesn't fit Oasis in the slightest. In this section, & the one below there is a clear concensus to restore something on what he regarded as his identity, so I will put "British" back. Johnbod (talk) 20:31, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

I'd suggest that Hiberno-British is a viable category in cases where we want to say that a person is more Irish than British. But Bacon's circumstances seem to indicate the Anglo-Irish term more fitting. Even then, in his case this may give away too much to Irishness, so perhaps the most accurate description is the more cumbersome: 'English painter born in Ireland'. Or if that cuts out too much Irishness, then: 'English painter born and largely raised in Ireland'. Note also that to call him an 'Irish born British painter' subsumes his Englishness! What is certain is that the reference to him as an 'Irish' painter in the disambiguation section is obviously wrong. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.129.67.165 (talk) 10:46, 13 July 2008 (UTC)

"Being Irish"

The article indicates that Bacon was born to English parents, but then states later that Straffan Lodge in Naas, County Kildare, was the birthplace of both parents. Unless I misread it, the article supports the theory that someone born in one country of parents, both of whom were born in that same country is actually partially of a different country. Does the writer know how far back one has to go into Bacon's family history to actually find someone born in England?

I think they'll try to do that soon!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.157.15.81 (talk) 21:35, 18 May 2008 (UTC)

From my reading of Bacon's bigraphies he considered himself British, so why not just call him that? "Irish born Briton" perhaps? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.3.203.152 (talk) 14:42, 16 June 2008 (UTC) The fact that his parents were English and he spent his childhood and early teens between the two countries indicates that it would be mistaken to say that he is Irish in the way that someone who was born in Ireland of Irish parents and remained in Ireland could be. The distinction is emphasised by the fact that he chose to live in England from his late teens till the end of his life. The most accurate description would be that he was English and born in Ireland, although the more general specification of 'Anglo-Irish' would perhaps be fairer to both inheritances. Bacon's case is clearly distinct from the case of Oasis given that they are English and choose to live in England despite their preferring to call themselves Irish. Choice is perhaps the most precise indicator of personal identity. Nonetheless, the Hiberno-English epithet may well be an entirely suitable term for them. Or English with Irish parents, although this may be unacceptable so 'Irish musicians with Irish parents born in England and spent entire lives in England' might be more suitable? Note that the difference between 'Hiberno-English' and 'Anglo-Irish' is that as with that term it indicates primacy of influence to the former culture, so we have a new point of contest.194.129.67.166 (talk) 16:35, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

• "Irish born British" or "Anglo-Irish" would both do - it should not be left as it is. Johnbod (talk) 20:27, 10 July 2008 (UTC)

Should The President of Ireland or Bobby Sands having been born in Northern Ireland be considered Anglo-Irish? Or a British born Irish? I think the legal status defines the nationality, not the birthplace. What passport did Bacon travel on? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 15.203.169.106 (talk) 10:36, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

Wikipedia policy is WP:V, WP:NPOV and WP:NOR, i.e. follow what reliable sources say: don't try to work it out yourself. Ty 12:40, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

Until very recently, the Irish constitution began "The territory of the Republic is the whole island of Ireland" and those born in Northern Ireland have always qualified automatically for Irish passports, and still do. Johnbod (talk) 13:01, 1 October 2008 (UTC)

I don't think where someone is born is sufficient to determine their national identity. If either Bacon or his parents were born in Ireland that doesn't automatically make them or anyone else Irish. Oasis's somewhat unlikely claim that they are in fact Irish is not undermined by the fact that they were born in England, it is undermined by the fact that they are so obviously parochially Mancunian. Legal status is also inadequate as a criterion as this could hinge on a number of factors.194.129.67.165 (talk) 17:22, 13 October 2008 (UTC)

If a person is born in Ireland and their parents were also born in Ireland, they are Irish. I do not think there is anything ambiguous about this. The fact that going back farther his family were of British descent is already reflected by his surname. To belabour this point, the anglo saxons came from Germany, so should we call him German British Irish? Actually humans are thought to have originated in Africa, so maybe we should include that also if we are to retrace everyones family tree. 147.114.226.175 (talk) 10:04, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

They are "Irish-born", which we say. You may know the Duke of Wellington's comment on his similar situation. Johnbod (talk) 10:06, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Roughly how many generations of a family have to be born in a country for them to be considered of that nationality? Should we dig through the rest of Wikipedia and change the nationality of every famous British person who does not have a British surname? The opening paragraph details his upbringing and how much time he spent in various countries. 147.114.226.175 (talk) 10:17, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

There are long established guidelines on how people's national identities are described. The key thing is how they identified themselves, and there appears to be no evidence Bacon regarded himself as Irish. Equally Henry Kissinger is not German, but German-born. And so on. See also Wikipedia:Manual of Style (biographies). Johnbod (talk) 10:22, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Has anybody got any sources on this? Ty 10:35, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

"English painter, born in Dublin." from Oxford Art Online (subscription required or membership of a subscribing public library). Ty 10:39, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Getty Union Name List has "English painter" too [1] Johnbod (talk) 10:53, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Many Irish artists left the country and did not like the place, that does not make them any less Irish. Sean O'Casey is a good example. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_O%27Casey#England

Oscar Wilde had a very similar background to Bacon and is undisputed as being Irish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_wilde

147.114.226.175 (talk) 10:46, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

I think it is quite a reasonable arguement that considering he was born in Ireland to parents who were also born in Ireland but of English descent, and he lived there until age 16, that the article should state that he is Irish. The burden of proof is on those who claim that spending most of your life in another country changes your nationality. 147.114.226.175 (talk) 10:55, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

It is worthwhile noting that his British born Grandparents also lived in Ireland. 147.114.226.175 (talk) 10:59, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

If you want to contribute to wikipedia, you have to follow wikipedia policies, which do not allow personal opinion and deduction. You have to find a reliable source to validate content. There are two sources above specifically for Bacon. Find something as valid that differs; then we can move forward in the discussion. Otherwise, we go by the sources we have. Ty 10:59, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

OK, here you go. http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:O_tKnSIrE-8J:www.artnet.com/artist/1799/francis-bacon.html+francis+bacon+irish&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk and http://www.hughlane.ie/francis_bacons_studio.php?type=Bacon%92s+Youth&heading=Bacon%92s+Life&rsno=2 and http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:kUIg3FVjaZ8J:20thcenturyart.suite101.com/article.cfm/francis_bacon_painter+francis+bacon+irish&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=uk. So we have the fact that he was born in Ireland, lived there for sixteen years, his parents were Irish, and his British grandparents lived in Ireland, and a link describing him as an Irish painter. On the other side, we have the fact that he lived in Britain for most of his life, and a witty line from the Duke of Wellington to make him British. 147.114.226.175 (talk) 11:30, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Neither of the websiters calling him Irish are very authoritative compared to Getty and Oxford, and the Hugh Lane Gallery notably refrains from calling him Irish, and calls his parents English. Hugh Lane himself is an interesting comparison - brought up & living his adult life in England, but identifying as Irish, which is what we call him. Johnbod (talk) 11:46, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Can you explain to me how this case differs from Oscar Wilde? Should WB Yeats be classified as British also considering he is of English descent, and lived for a while in London? Oxford could be accused as being a biased party being a British University. It appears that you refuse to consider any of the facts given. His birth in Ireland and youth spent there should be enough. Then you ask for links, they have been provided, then you claim that he did not feel Irish, what is this based upon?

Sting, for example, claims to be a citizen of the world. http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=active&q=sting+%22citizen+of+the+world%22&meta= but I note on Wikipedia he is listed as English. This is probably because he was born in England. 147.114.226.175 (talk) 12:02, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

You have to be accurate to sources. Lane does not say he was Irish. We know he was born in Ireland: that is not at issue. Questions about other people won't help here. We're not dealing with them. You need something more reliable than artnet. "His birth in Ireland and youth spent there should be enough." No, that's just an opinion. Find the references. Ty 12:17, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Earlier I edited the article to state that he was Irish, but lived most of his life in the UK, where he did most of his painting. Do you not think that is a more accurate description than what is currently on the article. It seems that other than providing a link (which I dispute) that says he is British, you have not put forth any reasonable arguement for his Britishness. Based on what is he British?

Above it is argued that Oasis, who are British born, but of Irish descent, but who have said in interviews that they are Irish, remain British. (For the record I agree that they are British) 147.114.226.173 (talk) 12:33, 17 October 2008 (UTC)

Grammar?

In the 3rd paragraph in the "London, Berlin, and Paris" section, it says:

"...One of the men was an ex-army friend of his father, another breeder of race-horses, named Harcourt-Smith. Bacon later claimed that his father had asked this friend to take him 'in-hand' and 'make a man of him'. Francis had a difficult relationship with his father, once admitting to be[ing] sexually attracted to him...."

This makes it sound as if Francis was sexually attracted to his own father (which I can understand would make the relationship difficult). Should it say, instead, that he was attracted to Harcourt-Smith? Z Wylld 20:09, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

No, you were right the first time. See his "Screaming Pope" series from the early 1950s. Ceoil 20:13, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Delezue

"The philosopher Gilles Deleuze has contributed greatly to the interpretation of Bacon's work." This line seems to me out of place in the opening paragraph of the entry. Is there some special connection between Deleuze and Bacon that merits this? In what way is Deleuze contribution any greater (in some objective sense) than any other critic? Axamoto 20:23, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

I agree its out of place in the current form of a very short and weak lead. Several heavyweights wrote extensively on Bacon, Deleuze was paticularly insightful, but so were Leiris, Sylvester etc. Ceoil 20:30, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Interviews with Francis Bacon (1993).jpg

Image:Interviews with Francis Bacon (1993).jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 18:35, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

External links section

It's too long. Probably some of the links to images are to sites where the image is a copyvio. Some of the links are actually wikilinks and should be in a "See also" section, if not linked in the main text. Ty 02:26, 21 May 2008 (UTC)