Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective

The first major New York exhibition in 20 years devoted to Francis Bacon (British, 1909-1992)-one of the most important painters of the 20th century-will be presented at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 20 through August 16, 2009.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the artist's birth, Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective will bring together the most significant works from each period of the artist's extraordinary career.

Drawn from public and private collections around the world, this landmark exhibition will consist of some 70 paintings, complemented by never-before-seen works and archival material from the Francis Bacon Estate, which will shed new light on the artist's career and working practices.

"Bacon is more compelling than ever: Despite the passage of time, his paintings remain fresh, urgent, and mysterious.

Never before has this work been more relevant to young artists," noted Gary Tinterow, Engelhard Chairman of the Metropolitan Museum's Department of Nineteenth-Century, Modern, and Contemporary Art.

"For these reasons, we are very pleased to be able to present a retrospective spanning his entire career to our viewing public."

Entirely self-taught, Francis Bacon emerged in 1945 as a major force in postwar art.

He rose to prominence over the subsequent 45 years, securing his reputation as one of the seminal artists of his generation.

With a predilection for shocking imagery, Bacon's oeuvre was dominated by emotionally charged depictions of the human body that are among the most powerful images in the history of art.