Sotheby’s will sell this large scale Francis Bacon oil on canvas painting in June. This is the first time that “Crouching Nude” will be part of an auction and pre-sale estimates say that the painting could fetch up to 15 million.
The famous Irish artist always drew his inspiration from pictures and memories, never from real-life models. This gloomy picture for instance is inspired by pictures of Bacon’s friends Muriel Belcher, Henrietta Moraes and Isabelle Rawsthorne.
Oliver Barker of Sotheby’s sais: “We anticipate this painting will be highly sought after by discerning collectors across the globe.” Showing a nude lady with a strange and distorted smile, the painting will be auctioned off on June 29 in London.
