6 
MuseoMag   N°IV 2024 
Francis Bacon (1909-1992), Three Studies for Portrait of George Dyer, 1963, oil on canvas, in three parts, 35.5 x 30.5 cm 
(each). The first publicly listed Masterpiece on Artex Global Markets. Owned by Art Share 002. 
OBSESSION AND DESIRE 
Francis Bacon’s lovers 
In 1963, Francis Bacon met George Dyer, his greatest 
muse and lover. Their first encounter is shrouded 
in myth. Some say Dyer, a small-time thief from 
London’s East End, was caught breaking into Bacon’s 
studio in London. Bacon himself claims that the 
pair met in a bar in Soho. Either way, it was the 
start of an intense and complicated relationship 
that lasted almost a decade, ending abruptly with 
Dyer’s suicide in 1971. Overwhelmed with grief, 
Bacon continued to paint Dyer after his tragic death; 
indeed, his lover appeared in more than 40 paintings 
throughout his career. 
We are lucky enough to have Bacon’s very first 
portrait of Dyer on display at our museum for the next 
two years. This triptych is also the first work of art to 
be listed on ARTEX Global Markets, a trading venue 
that aims to democratise investment in art. Painted 
just a few months after they first met, Three Studies 
for Portrait of George Dyer (1963) depicts Dyer in 
pink and turquoise undertones, the face distorted 
in the artist’s signature style which draws on the 
aesthetics of flesh and meat, peeling away the 
skin to expose the tortured psyche beneath. The 
violence of the rendering is palpable, as is the sense 
of fervent devotion, evident in the triptych format 
traditionally used in religious worship. 
This simultaneous sense of rage and passion is 
typical of Bacon’s portrayal of his lover, whom he 
painted obsessively over the following years. To 
mark the arrival of the very first portrait of George 
Dyer at the museum, we take a moment to consider 
the tumultuous love affairs that shaped Bacon’s life 
and work. 
PETER LACY: 
THE ABUSIVE FIGHTER PILOT 
Turbulent relationships with complex, difficult men 
were a recurring feature in Bacon’s love life and left 
an indelible mark on his work. Before he met Dyer, 
Bacon was romantically involved with Peter Lacy, 
often portrayed as a fighter pilot and abusive drunk. 
They first met a private members’ club in Soho in 
1952 and started an on-and-off relationship marked 
by passion, but also violence, until Lacy’s death in 
 © 
The 
Estate 
of 
Francis 
Bacon. 
All 
rights 
reserved, 
DACS 
2024, 
Photo: 
Tom 
Lucas 
/ MNAHA