Bacon, Burroughs and old lace

Peter Minihan, 1989.

Recently we came across this footage of a discussion between Francis Bacon and writer William Burroughs - recommended if you're a fan of either eccentric. Highlights include Bacon comparing Jackson Pollock's painting to old lace.

Mid-18th Century lace, in the V&A collection

Three Studies of Lucian Freud, 1969

As Francis Bacon's triptych of Lucien Freud 'Three Studies of Lucian Freud, 1969' became the most expensive painting ever bought at auction (£89m), we got to thinking where Freud's fabulous stolen portrait of Bacon might be.

Thirteen years after the theft, Freud circulated the poster below around Berlin and even asked the thief if he would lend the painting for the duration of Freud's 2011 Tate retrospective, but sadly nobody came forward. We wonder what happened to all the posters, whether they were steamed off walls by art-lovers...

Monday Portrait: Ken Currie

Continuing a slightly morbid run of Monday Portraits, this week is 'Unfamiliar Reflection', 2002 by Ken Currie. The reflection brings to mind Francis Bacon's 1955 work 'Study for a Portrait II (after the Life Mask of William Blake)'.

For those in Edinburgh, Currie's latest exhibition 'New Works' opens this weekend at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.