Francis Bacon (World of Art) [Paperback]

John Russell (Author)

Book Description

Series: World of Art | Publication Date: October 1993

Based on conversations with Bacon that extended over several years, John Russell's original study revealed much about the man and the artist. On Bacon's death in 1992, the unique vision and accomplishment of one of the greatest artists of the century could be appreciated in their totality. In a new final chapter, Russell does just that, as well as discussing Bacon's late work, Bacon's intentions and his achievements, both frequently misunderstood, are here set in perspective. John Russell was chief art critic of the "New York Times" from 1982 to 1990 and is the author of many books on the arts, including "The Meanings of Modern Art" (Thames and Hudson, revised edition, 1992).

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

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
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"My painting is not violent; It's life that is violent" - Francis Bacon" --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; Revised & updated edition (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500202710
• ISBN-13: 978-0500202715
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,068,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Get the original folks!, December 4, 2008

By 

Kevin McFarland "faithful" (Madison Wi.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Francis Bacon (Hardcover)

Yes its true, this a reprint of a much more impressive book....and without reservation get that one, not this foggy weak shadow of the original.When I opened the package containing this book I was excited about a supposed new and improved Bacon book , minutes later the book was back in the package and returned. This reprint is NOT AS GOOD AS ITS ORIGINAL, I would say the print job is quite muddy compared to the 1983 version...so buy that one, it is still available...this is solid advice from a serious Bacon enthusiast, heed it .

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to Bacon but not a very deep analysis., April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Francis Bacon (World of Art) (Paperback)

Like many biographies, Russell's work concentrates more on the man's times than on the man himself. While we learn a lot about what was going on around Bacon, what he himself experienced is left unexplored. Granted, Bacon made gathering biographical information very difficult, but I would have appreciated more insightful analysis of Bacon's life and its connections to his work. Overall it is a very good introduction to Bacon's career and total output, and includes a huge number of pictures that make the book extremely valuable as a reference. Unfortunately though, while there are many color reproductions, they are outnumbered by black and white ones that take away from truly experiencing the power of Bacon's work.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seek this Bacon volume!, June 12, 2001

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Francis Bacon (Hardcover)

This book on Francis Bacon is out of print but the good people at Amazon.com can help you find it. And if you love Francis Bacon then this book is a MUST for your library. Well written and gorgeous to view, this book more than most shows the less known works of the British genius of psychologically laden painting. The handsome book was a catalogue for the Smithsonian Institution exhibition in 1989 and 1990, before Bacon died. As for a collection of the master's best, look no further.