Francis Bacon | Two autograph letters signed, to Lawrence Gowing, 1968-71

Francis Bacon

Two autograph letters signed, to Lawrence Gowing

the first thanking Gowing for his preface to the catalogue to Bacon's 1968 New York show ("...I think it is marvellously accurate even if it flatters me too much - it is so terribly difficult to be exact at all in writing about painting..."), the second referring again to the preface and praising Gowing's ability to "translate the act of painting and all its own particular subtleties into words", the letters also praising other critical work by Gowing, inviting him to view Bacon's latest paintings, and recommending Andy Warhol's Flesh ("...I found it a very accurate and beautiful documentary..."), 5 pages, 4to, red and violet fibre-tip, Enton Hall and 7 Reece Mews, London, "Thursday 29" [?August 1968] and 27 April 1971 

[with:] Lawrence Gowing, corrected typescript of 'The Irrefutable Image' (here untitled), his prefatory essay to Francis Bacon: Recent Paintings. November-December 1968, revisions and corrections in blue ballpoint, 18 pages, 4to, [1968] 

Lawrence Gowing (1918-91) was an English artist who trained at the Euston Road School. Gowing was also a notable teacher - at this time he was Professor of Fine Art at the University of Leeds - and writer. His essay for the catalogue for Bacon's solo exhibition at New York's Marlborough-Gerson Gallery, November-December 1968, is a vibrant piece of prose on Bacon's revolutionary impact on the art world.