Francis Bacon British, 1909-1992
Triptych inspired by Oresteia of Aeschylus, 1981
Three Lithographs in colours on one sheet of Arches Infinity watermarked paper, with full margins
Signed by the artist in pencil, lower left on recto
With the printers blindstamp, llower left on recto
Signed by the artist in pencil, lower left on recto
With the printers blindstamp, llower left on recto
Each Plate: 40 x 30 cm
Sheet: 53.5 x 103.5 cm
Framed: 72.8 x 126.2 cm
Sheet: 53.5 x 103.5 cm
Framed: 72.8 x 126.2 cm
© The Estate of Francis Bacon
The present work relates to a large triptych painting, which is now held in the Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo, Norway. It is a very large Triptych, Oil on canvas, with...
The present work relates to a large triptych painting, which is now held in the Astrup Fearnley Collection, Oslo, Norway. It is a very large Triptych, Oil on canvas, with each panel measuring each 198 by 147.5 inches. Each of the three parts is a complete, dynamic composition that can stand on its own and yet all have similarities that definitely unite them. Bacon's traced geometry is mysterious but not at all disturbing and offers a sense of order to counter the highly agitated action apparently within its prescribed volumes. Is it reassuring that the depicted explosiveness might be so contained? As on-lookers, should we be comforted that our view is not from inside such visual structures?
The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aechylus in the 5th Century BC , concerning the murder of Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra, the murder of Clytemnestra by Orestes, their son, the trial of Orestes, the end of the curse on the House of Atreus and pacification of the Erinyer The Trilogy— consisting of Agamemnon, The Libration Bearers , and The Eumenides shows how the Greek gods interacted with the characters and influenced their decisions pertaining to events and disputes. The cycle of murderous revenge followed by bloody revenge organised and piloted by the gods was a theme fascinating to Francis Bacon who shows this visceral story in graphic detail in our triptych.
The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies written by Aechylus in the 5th Century BC , concerning the murder of Agamemnon by his wife Clytemnestra, the murder of Clytemnestra by Orestes, their son, the trial of Orestes, the end of the curse on the House of Atreus and pacification of the Erinyer The Trilogy— consisting of Agamemnon, The Libration Bearers , and The Eumenides shows how the Greek gods interacted with the characters and influenced their decisions pertaining to events and disputes. The cycle of murderous revenge followed by bloody revenge organised and piloted by the gods was a theme fascinating to Francis Bacon who shows this visceral story in graphic detail in our triptych.
Literature
Francis Bacon: Estampes - collection Alexandre Tacou Number 12
Bruno Sabatier, Francis Bacon: The Graphic Work, no. 16
Miguel Orozo “The Complete prints of Francis Bacon” : Reference 81-83