Centurions: Francis Bacon: Innocent Scream
FRANCIS BACON AT THE BBC | Celebrating the life and work of a great British artist
Centurions: Francis Bacon: Innocent Scream
Why did a Velazquez portrait prove to be such an enduring source of inspiration for Francis Bacon?
Synopsis
Although Bacon never actually saw the painting of Pope Innocent X, the many images he collected of it formed the basis for his series of 'screaming popes' paintings. The Velazquez original engendered a number of images that Bacon could use, reuse and combine with other elements to convey a powerful sense of rage and impotence at the human condition.
Did you know?
Among the images that Bacon collated for inclusion in the Pope paintings was a still taken from Sergei Eisenstein's 1925 film 'Battleship Potemkin'. The image is that of the screaming nurse from the famous Odessa steps sequence, and Bacon morphs the face onto that of Velazquez's Pope Innocent to create a powerful and disturbing image.
Contributors
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Documents
LETTER FROM MICHAEL GILL TO FRANCIS BACON
Producer Michael Gill updates Francis Bacon on his forthcoming television programme.
RADIO TIMES ARTICLE: Francis Bacon
A preview of 'Fragments of a Portrait' from the 'Radio Times'.
RADIO TIMES ENTRY: 'Fragments of a Portrait'
How the 'Radio Times' presented 'Fragments of a Portrait' in its listings.
AUDIENCE RESPONSE REPORT
The BBC finds out what the viewers thought of 'Fragments of a Portrait' on its original broadcast.
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