Francis Bacon's animals can be found if you look. A London exhibition examines the animal instincts of Francis Bacon

As great fans of this truly original artist's work, we are glad to announce a new Francis Bacon exhibition opening in London which explores how he drew on photographs of animals for his inspiration, such as the scream of a chimpanzee.

He would then use them in his astonishing depictions of human beings. Born in Ireland, Bacon was one of the most acclaimed and publicised artists of the 20th century. He was mainly known known for his idiosyncratic approach to the human physique.

The exhibition, at the Royal Academy of Arts, attempts to show how Bacon believed the line between humans and animals, their forms and instincts could be blurred. A spokesman at the Royal Academy commented that Bacon believed that beneath the very thin exterior of civilisation, humans were ultimately all animals, and believed they were part of the animal kingdom.

Bacon, who died in 1992 aged 82, was the son of a horse breeder who made trips to South Africa and studied animal photography. Known for his screaming human heads tilted back with open mouths, this kind of silent, powerful scream seemed to emanate from his paintings.

It was clearly directly derived from a photograph of a chimpanzee that he used as source material. The exhibition spans Bacon's spectacular 50-year career, showing early canvases as well as his final paintings. In addition there is a trio of bullfight paintings which will be exhibited together for the first time. Dark and yet elevating they will lift your mind to another sphere.

"Francis Bacon: Man and Beast" runs from Jan. 29 to April 17.

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/francis-bacon