Interviews with francis bacon, 19621979 david sylvester, francis bacon on. Sep 12, 2007 an edited extract from interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester in 1963, 1966 and 1979 david sylvester wed 12 sep 2007 19. The interview was recorded by the bbc in october 1962. The extraordinarily revealing interviews with francis bacon conducted over a period of 25 years by the distinguished art critic david sylvester amount to a unique statement by bacon on h. Apr 18, 20 francis bacon fragments of a portrait interview by david sylvester tv documentary, broadcast on bbc1, 18 september 1966. By far the most significant collaboration between bacon and sylvester was the series of interviews first published in 1975, but conducted from 1962 to 1974. Cheim and read francis bacon, confounder of art critics. He first wrote about bacons work in the late 1940s, and the pair soon became close friends. In his own words he was not gay he disliked the word and preferred to be labeled queer. In these masterfully and creatively reconstructed interviews, sylvester has provided unparalleled access to the thought, work, and life of one of the creative geniuses of our century. David sylvester was curator of several major international francis bacon exhibitions. Francis bacon interviewed by david sylvester 23 march. Francis bacons last interview, by francis giacobetti. Pope, the papacy, and the roman catholic church by merging the modem context of.
Francis bacon, interviews with david sylvester 1966,197173. The younger of sir nicholas and lady annes two sons, francis bacon began attending trinity college, cambridge, in april 1573, when he was 11 years old. Bacon was characteristically dismissive of his furniture designs, telling his chronicler david sylvester that they were overinfluenced by the french and not very original. He was introduced to bacon, a famously reluctant photographic subject, by. David sylvester the brutality of fact interviews with francis bacon free ebook download as pdf file. David sylvester was the most prominent art critic to champion bacons work. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. His parents names were nicholas bacon and anne bacon. He is widely considered to be the father of empiricism. Interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester, paperback.
Maybe the most surprising information in this introduction comes from the fact that all those 11 encounters between francis bacon and francis giacobetti were recorded. Francis bacon was born at york house, charing cross, london, on 22 january 1561. Gegenwart 32012 1 interviewing francis bacon sandra kisters the first time that i saw. Alban kc, 22 january 1561 9 april 1626, was an english philosopher, statesman, and author. Sylvester was the original subject for what became the first painting in a series of eight popes from 1953. He completed his course of study at trinity in december 1575. Francis bacons last interview, by francis giacobetti, 19911992. He became attorneygeneral and high chancellor, baron of verulam, and. Francis bacon proposal for a new method of natural philosophy. Francis bacon irish, 19091992 was one of the most unique, engaging figurative painters to emerge after world war ii. The new organon francis bacon preface preface those who have taken it on themselves to lay down the law of nature as something that has already been discovered and understood, whether they have spoken in simple con. David sylvester was a prominent writer, art critic, and leading authority on francis bacon.
The 11 sessions were recorded but the film has not yet been release. This obvious freudian interpretation was put to bacon directly by the art critic david sylvester in one of their famous interviews bacon simply deflected it. Nine interviews with francis bacon spanning over twenty years from 1962 to 1986 which give invaluable insight into the creative mind of one of the twentieth centurysgreatest artists since its first publication, this book with its subsequent revised and augmented editionshas been considered a classic of its kind. Controversial in both life and art, francis bacon wa. The popes scream, like the figures at the base of a crucifixion, is bacons visceral response to the human condition as a whole a world of violence and despair, hopelessness and. Interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester, 9780500292532, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Francis bacon article about francis bacon by the free. Memoirs of eminently pious women of britain and america 1833 lives of the apostles 1836 wanderings on the seas and shores of africa 1843.
From interviews with francis bacon david sylvester, thames and hudson 19621979 drawing is faster than painting, perhaps the only medium as fast as the mind itself. The art world continues to neglect our native genius british stars and scythian gold briton speaks about pain and painting brushes with the bottle brushes with the soldiery of the canvas buyers stampede for bleak bacons. He was baptised at st martininthefields on 25 january 1561 as second son of sir nicholas and lady ann bacon. David bacon, well known as one of the missionary pioneers of ohio and michigan, and was born. Ive had a desire to do forms, as when i originally did three forms at the base of the crucifixion three studies for figures at the base of a crucifixion, 1944. Interviews with francis bacon 1993 edition open library. David francis bacon november 30, 18 january 23, 1865 was an american physician and author. Pdf interviewing francis bacon sandra kisters academia. The extraordinarily revealing interviews with francis bacon conducted over a period of 25 years by the distinguished art critic david sylvester amount to a unique statement by bacon on his art and on art in general. Page 2 of 4 on studies by samuel johnson 1753 1700 words first appeared, untitled, in number 85 of the adventurer, august 28, 1753. These have subsequently been revised and enhanced to include later interviews up until 1986. Master of ebullient despair francis bacon, the papal portraits of 1953 francis baconhenry moore. Looking back at francis bacon by david sylvester the.
Looking back at francis bacon by david sylvester 36. Interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester goodreads. The materials and techniques used by francis bacon were studied through the. He studied in france, but his fathers early death made it necessary for him to obtain a profession.
For instance, the other day i painted a head of somebody head, 1961, and what made the sockets of the eyes, the nose, the mouth were, when you analysed them, just forms which had nothing to do with eyes, nose or mouth. An essential and entertaining series of interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester from 1962 to 1986, 9 interviews. As a discussion of the problems of making art it has been widely influential. Francis bacon was a queer artist in the old fashioned sense when queer was a term of abuse, a recognition and disapproval by society of divergent sexual tastes.
An edited extract from interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester in 1963, 1966 and 1979 david sylvester wed 12 sep 2007 19. The following year, bacon enrolled in a law program at honourable. Background for francis francis bacons parents names are nicholas bacon and anne bacon francis when to trinity college in cambridge, the university of cambridge, and. In an interview with david sylvester in 1962 bacon said that love was never complete, that you could cut yourself open and try to merge with the loved one but. Nine interviews with francis bacon spanning over twenty years from 1962 to 1986 which give invaluable insight into the creative mind of one of the twentieth centurysgreatest artists since its first publication, this bookwith its subsequent revised and augmented editionshas been considered a classic of its kind. Its interesting that the photographic image youve worked from most of all isnt a scientific or a journalistic one but a very deliberate and famous work of art the still of the screaming nanny from potemkin. Bacon was an instrumental figure in the renaissance and scientific enlightenment.
Francis bacon fragments of a portrait interview by david. Francis bacon s painting is of a very special violence. He has been described as one of the greatest thinkers ever whose ideas have changed the way people think. Francis bacon 15611626 was an english scientist and lawyer. His father was lord keeper of the great seal of england and his mother.
Anthony david bernard sylvester cbe, 21 september 1924. During a long career david sylvester was influential in promoting modern art in britain, in particular the work of lucian freud and francis bacon. Interview with david sylvester francis bacon art theory. Interviews with francis bacon sylvester, david, 1924.
Francis bacon interviewed by david sylvester 23 march 1963. Francis bacon fragments of a portrait interview by david sylvester tv documentary, broadcast on bbc1, 18 september 1966. Interviews with francis bacon by sylvester, david, 1924. His parents are sir nicholas bacon, the lord keeperof the seal, and lady anne cooke, daughter of sir anthony cooke, aknight and one time tutor of the royal family. Sir francis bacon essays pdf in this edition of bacons essays, i have used the text of james spedding, the works of francis. This classic collection of interviews with the artist, francis bacon is a remarkable insight into the mysterious pathways of creativity. Francis bacons painting is of a very special violence. A fascinating and very moving portrait of a great artist at work. Often paintings combine very thick areas of paint with areas with little or no paint. Sir francis bacon was born in london in 1561 to a prominent and well connected family. Memoirs of eminently pious women of britain and america 1833. Francis bacons mother was also the sisterinlaw of lord burghley.
The elder bacon, who died in 1992, was a direct descendant of sir nicholas baconfather of the famed english scientist and philosopher, sir francis bacon. He lived in london and wrote for the tribune before heading to paris and working as. Francis bacon simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In the book, a classic of its kind, bacon considers the problems of realism and sheds new light on aspects of his life. Mar 24, 1975 an essential and entertaining series of interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester from 1962 to 1986, 9 interviews. Sylvester, david the extraordinarily revealing interviews with francis bacon conducted over a period of 25 years by the distinguished art critic david sylvester amount to a unique statement by bacon on his art and on art in general. Interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester, 9780500274750, available at book depository with free delivery. Its interesting that the photographic image youve worked from most of all isnt a scientific or a journalistic one but a very deliberate and famous work of art. Nevertheless, as farson wrote, this work appears to have helped him feel his way. Francis bacon francis bacon was born on january 22 of 1561 in strand, london, united kingdom. It is through the classical medium of oils and acrylics that i first tried to paint, with limited success. With bacon s recent death, no other work will ever match this achievement. Francis bacon 15611626 francis was the youngest son of nicolas bacon, lord keeper of the seal.
In these masterfully and creatively reconstructed interviews, sylvester has provided unparalleled. Since its first publication, this bookwith its subsequent revised and augmented editionshas been considered a classic of its kind. Pablo picasso, in particular the biomorphic figures in picassos paintings of bathers at dinard of 192732 diego velazquezs portrait of pope innocent x 164950. Sep 12, 2007 when i first read david sylvester s interviews with francis bacon at the bushytailed, brighteyed age of 16, they changed my life. An essay in neuroesthetics article pdf available in frontiers in human neuroscience 7. The elder bacon, who died in 1992, was a direct descendant of sir nicholas bacon father of the famed english scientist and philosopher, sir francis bacon. Francis bacon, interviews with david sylvester 1966,197173 interview, 1966 david sylvester. The recurring themes in bacon s work, his influences and his life. David sylvester cbe 19242001 was a prominent writer, art critic and curator, and a leading authority on rene magritte, henry moore and, in particular, francis bacon. With bacons recent death, no other work will ever match this achievement. The recurring themes in bacons work, his influences and his life. Breaking with the convention of art interviews, sylvester manages to dig into the minutia of bacons practice. Breaking with the convention of art interviews, sylvester manages to dig into the minutia of bacon s practice.
David sylvester the brutality of fact interviews with francis bacon. The last known interview made by francis bacon was with his friend francis giacobetti between september 1991 and early 1992. After francis bacon is the first book to give extended consideration to the way the reception of bacon s art, including gilles deleuzes influential text on the artist, has been shaped by the sylvester interviews and to move beyond the limiting effects of the interviews, providing fresh interpretations. Largely selftaught, bacon was born in dublin and moved to london when he was 16, and then to paris and berlin in the following few years. In fact, it was sylvester who interviewed bacon march 23, 1963. In particular, bacon developed and popularised a scientific method which marked a new scientific rigour based on evidence, results and a methodical approach to science. David sylvesters pointed questions draw out bacons complexity, or as i see. Born into a well connected northlondon jewish family, sylvester had trouble as a student at university college school and was anthony david bernard sylvester cbe, 21 september 1924.
In 1573,just the age oftwelve, he entered trinity college, cambridge. Nine interviews with francis bacon spanning over twenty years from 1962 to 1986 which give invaluable insight into the creative mind of one of the twentieth centurys greatest artists. Nine interviews range from 1962 to 1986, bacon s fifties through his seventies, in the form of interactive conversations with art historian david sylvester british, 19242001, ranging from bacon s frustrated youth to his unique artistic techniques, the meaning of art to the meaning of life. In bacons garden, and last, but not least, sir wal. Nov 15, 2016 the extraordinarily revealing interviews with francis bacon conducted over a period of 25 years by the distinguished art critic david sylvester amount to a unique statement by bacon on his art and on art in general. Francis bacon, painter, is dead at 82 francis bacon, louise bourgeois and franz xaver messerschmidt. Interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester, 1993, thames and hudson edition, in english 3rd enl. Interviews with francis bacon by david sylvester abebooks. It is observed by bacon, that reading makes a full man, conversation a ready man, and writing an exact. Opportunities and challenges pieces include damien hirsts ethidium bromide aqueous solution, francis bacon s study for a portrait of john edwards, henry moores mother and child, david. But these are overly facile detours, detours that the artist himself judges severely and condemns in his work.
Nine interviews range from 1962 to 1986, bacons fifties through his seventies, in the form of interactive conversations with art historian david sylvester british, 19242001, ranging from bacons frustrated youth to his unique artistic techniques, the meaning of art to the meaning of life. To ask other readers questions about interviews with francis bacon, please sign up. Sep 05, 2000 during a long career david sylvester was influential in promoting modern art in britain, in particular the work of lucian freud and francis bacon. Two set of excerpts were published in 2003 in two different magazines.
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