Francis Bacon (1909-1992), perhaps the most eminent British painter of the twentieth century, offered his disturbing images to the viewing public virtually without comment. He rejected almost all analysis of his paintings, repudiated any category used to describe them, and refused to allow them to be discussed individually in the catalogues of the exhibitions of his work that were mounted during his lifetime.

This book, which accompanies the first major retrospective exhibition in America of Bacon's paintings since his death in 1992, will give uninhibited voice to the thoughts of three prominent scholars of his art. Art historians Dennis Farr and Sally Yard, and Bacon's friend and biographer Michael Peppiatt discuss their views of the artist's intense and unsettling body of work, introducing a wealth of material that sheds new light on his creative life and working methods.

Accompanying the essays are three historic interviews with the artist by Michael Peppiatt. Finally, Dennis Farr provides authoritative and illuminating discussion of each work in the exhibition.