Francis BACON From Metropolitan Triptych  (1981)

Original color aquatint and etching on Guarro paper, the right-hand panel from Metropolitan Triptych, a printed edition after the three-part work painted from 1974 to 1977. Signed in pencil and numbered from the limited edition of 99 (there were also 15 hors commerce and 15 artist proofs). Printed and published by Ediciones Polígrafa, Barcelona. Referenced in Sabatier, 4 and Taco,13. Image size: 385mm x 295mm. 

With full margins and in very good condition with nice strong colours. A (thumb?) imprint to left sheet edge, probably from printing, a nick of paper loss to the bottom deckled sheet edge with a very faint mark to the area, but we think the print still suitable for float framing. A truly eye-catching example by this eternally blue-chip modern British artist.

This triptych is one of the last in a series that Bacon painted following the suicide of his long-time companion George Dyer in 1971. It shows Dyer struggling on a beach and in this panel he is under the protection of an umbrella.