Francis Bacon – Autoportrait

Autoportrait (Sabatier 12), 1977

• Artist: Francis Bacon (Irish-British, 1909–1992)
• Medium: Lithograph in colours on Arches wove paper
• Dimensions (image): 850 × 635 mm (33 1/2 × 25 in)
• Dimensions (sheet): 1020 × 723 mm (40 1/8 × 28 1/2 in)
• Edition: Edition of 180
• Signature: Signed in felt-tip pen
• Reference: Sabatier 12
• Publisher: Galerie Claude Bernard Printer: Mourlot, Paris 

Autoportrait is a color lithograph on Arches wove paper, executed in 1977 by Francis Bacon — one of the most celebrated, psychologically searing, and historically significant painters of the twentieth century — signed in felt-tip pen, from the edition of 180, published by Galerie Claude Bernard and printed by Mourlot in Paris, catalogued as Sabatier 12. Presented as the full sheet and framed, this work represents an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire a print by an artist whose works on canvas regularly achieve some of the highest prices in the history of the art market.

Francis Bacon occupies a position of absolute centrality in the history of twentieth-century painting. Born in Dublin in 1909, Bacon developed across five decades a body of work of unparalleled psychological intensity, formal daring, and visceral power — distorted, anguished, and isolated figures rendered with a violence of brushwork and a precision of composition that transformed the human portrait into one of the most devastating meditations on existence, mortality, and the fragility of the self in the history of Western art. His self-portraits, in particular, hold a place of unique significance within his oeuvre — confronting his own image with the same unflinching intensity he brought to his depictions of popes, lovers, and the screaming figures of his most iconic canvases.

The work is in very good condition.

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FAQ

Is this an original work by Francis Bacon?
Yes — an authentic color lithograph on Arches wove paper, signed in felt-tip pen by Bacon, from the edition of 180, published by Galerie Claude Bernard and printed by Mourlot, Paris, catalogued as Sabatier 12.

Who printed the work?
Mourlot, Paris — the legendary lithographic atelier responsible for some of the most celebrated print editions in twentieth-century art, with a roster including Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall.

Who published the work?
Galerie Claude Bernard — one of the most distinguished galleries in the history of postwar Parisian art dealing.

What is the Sabatier reference?
Sabatier 12 is the catalogue reference for this work within the documented scholarship of Bacon's printed oeuvre.

What paper was used?
Arches wove paper — one of the most prestigious supports in fine art lithography, prized for its exceptional surface quality and archival stability.

What is the edition size?
Edition of 180 — signed in felt-tip pen by the artist.

What are the dimensions?
Image: 850 × 635 mm (33 1/2 × 25 in) — Sheet: 1020 × 723 mm (40 1/8 × 28 1/2 in)

Is the work framed?
Yes — presented as the full sheet, framed.

What is the condition?
Very good condition. Full condition report available upon request.

Is this artwork a good investment?
Francis Bacon is among the most commercially significant artists in the history of the global auction market, with paintings achieving some of the highest prices ever recorded. His prints — comparatively rare within his practice — represent a singular and highly coveted entry point into the work of one of the most important painters of the twentieth century.

Is worldwide shipping available?
Yes — secure worldwide shipping from France with professional packaging, tracking, and insurance.