Francis Bacon: Incunabula

In 1949 Francis Bacon found his subject—the human body—and from then on it remained his principal theme. But he did not paint from life. Instead he appropriated images from the mass media that he manipulated into his "studies." This book presents over 200 of these documents, about which Bacon was secretive but which, it emerges, were integral to his creative process.

Culled from thousands of pieces of original material found in his studio, including newspapers, magazines, books, and photographs, these items have each been exhaustively and minutely researched, providing for the first time comprehensive details of the artist's sources. Previously unseen, these visually thrilling documents demonstrate Bacon's tactile, visceral relationship with his sources and his unerring eye for seeking out visual stimulation in the most unexpected places.

This unique selection of material from Bacon's sudio—meticulously documented and compellingly presented—will provide an invaluable insight into both the artist's work and his working methods.

Martin Harrison is the author of In Camera: Francis Bacon.

In 1949 Francis Bacon found his main subject, the human body, and from then on it remained his principal theme. But he did not paint from life. Instead, he took from images from the mass media - newspapers, magazines, books, photos - and drew on them for his paintings.

Raymond Bial - Library Journal

This large-format book consists of clippings from magazines, newspapers, advertisements, and other documents culled from the cluttered studio of Irish-born artist Francis Bacon, who died at the age of 82 in Madrid, Spain, in 1992. Known for his bold, severe, and often violent imagery, Bacon relied on many of these pictures for inspiration in his paintings. Harrison (In Camera: Francis Bacon) and independent scholar Daniels, both working on a forthcoming catalogue raisonnA on Bacon's paintings, contribute introductory essays that offer significant and curious insights into the inner life and work of the artist. The editors carefully arrange many of these "working documents" and annotate them at the end of the book. Beautifully designed and printed, this will be helpful to anyone studying the painter and his work. A welcome addition to all major art collections.

Martin Harrison is the author of In Camera: Francis Bacon and is the editor of the forthcoming Francis Bacon Catalogue Raisonne, a project with which Rebecca Daniels is also closely involved. They live in England.