Francis Bacon (1909–92) was an English painter, often described as a maverick, who rejected the preferred artistic style of abstraction of the era, in favour of a distinctive and disturbing realism. From the mid-1940s, his work met with critical success and his reputation was established. Today, he is recognised as one of the most important painters of the Twentieth Century. At Slade House we feel privileged to own a collection of rare original lithographs made by the artist in collaboration with Galerie Maeght, Paris which include portraits of the closest friends in his circle including George Dyer and Lucian Freud.