Francis Bacon: The Outsider. Presenter, Adam Clayton retraces a trip Bacon took to Ireland in 1929, with his new friend and diarist, Eric Allden, painting a fresh picture of Bacon’s relationship with the land of his birth
A landmark Arts and Culture documentary for RTÉ 1 celebrates the 30th anniversary of the death of the Irish-born artist, Francis Bacon, (1909-1992) one of the greatest figurative painters of the twentieth century.
Presented and narrated by U2’s Adam Clayton, a huge admirer of Francis Bacon, this insightful documentary traces the artist’s time in Ireland and examines the complex relationship Francis Bacon had with Ireland, the country of his birth. Surprisingly few people are aware that Bacon was born in Baggot Street, Dublin and spent much of his early life in Ireland. Bacon was thought to have left Ireland in his teens, never to return but, recently discovered diaries from 1929 written by Bacon’s friend, Eric Allden, show this was not the case.
Allden was a superb diarist and thanks to his detailed entries, a different side to Bacon is revealed with some remarkable discoveries made about the artist’s early life and work. The documentary charts a course from Dublin to Kildare, London, Monaco and Renvyle in Galway, to bring the diaries to life. Clayton goes on a road trip to retrace Bacon’s steps and explore what the artist saw, who he met and the impact it had on his art.
On this journey, Clayton talks to Dr. Margarita Cappock, an expert on Bacon who has spent twenty years researching and writing about the artist. Cappock first realised the significance of the Irish chapters in the diaries of Eric Allden and highlights what this means in context of Bacon’s life and art.
The documentary also includes contributions by authors, Annalyn Swan and Mark Stevens, authors of ‘Revelations’, the latest biography on Bacon, and Martin Harrison, author of the definitive catalogue of Bacon’s paintings. John Minihan, Irish photographer and a friend of Bacon’s, provides a vivid personal insight to the man he knew, as he photographed him and socialised with him in London and Paris.
Adam Clayton says, ‘I connected with Bacon when I was in my teens, maybe because he was born in Ireland, it somehow resonated with me…he was an artist who with a few brushstrokes could bring you right to the edge of chaos.’
Margarita Cappock says, ‘Francis Bacon is one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century. Bacon’s Irish upbringing had such a significant impact on him and this documentary will be a revelation in terms of providing new insights to Bacon’s life and art.’
Directed and produced by Karen McGrath, Mount Venus Productions with haunting images of the West of Ireland, shot by Director of Photography, John Fay and original music written and produced by Gavin Friday with Michael Heffernan, this documentary makes for compelling viewing.