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Library Journal Review

Bacon is considered one of Britain's greatest contemporary painters; in fact, he has been a powerful presence in the art world for virtually half this century. In this exhibition catalog, noted British art historian Gowing and his American collaborator have done a thoughtful job of explaining Bacon's intensely morose artistic vision. In their essays they develop a few main themes, then devote the rest of the book to full-page color plates that allow for a chronological survey of the artist's painting. This range of visual imagery will be important for academic and specialized art study. Bacon's life is more clearly detailed in two earlier works, David Sylvester's The Brutality of Fact: Interviews with Francis Bacon (Thames & Hudson, 1987. rev. ed.) and Dawn Ades's Francis Bacon ( LJ 11/15/85). For libraries without either, this monograph is a good beginning.-- Paula A. Baxter, NYPL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

Published in collaboration with the Hirshhorn Museum's retrospective exhibit of the work of British realist painter Francis Bacon, this book's publication coincides with the artist's 80th birthday and includes a survey of his work since 1945. Bacon's art, showing the dark side of the human condition, is reproduced excellently in 83 color plates and 10 foldouts. The Hirshhorn exhibit, which ran through January of 1990, is the first general survey of Bacon's work in 25 years and one of only three solo exhibits of his work to be held in the US. Critical essays by Lawrence Gowing (who has published other essays on Bacon's work) and Sam Hunter precede the catalog of the exhibition and give biographical information and an analysis of the development of Bacon's style. A detailed chronology of the artist's life, a listing of public collections plus solo and group exhibitions since 1984, and an excellent bibliography of criticism are all included. An excellent addition to libraries with modern art collections. -N. M. Lambert, University of South Carolina at Spartanburg