Love for sale; Many portraits by Francis Bacon (left) were heartfelt records of his personal relationships. Now, one of the most celebrated examples could fetch up to pounds 3.5m at auction. By Sue Hubbard.(Features)

From: The Independent (London, England) | Date: May 17, 2005 | Copyright information

Byline: Sue Hubbard

Francis Bacon is arguably the greatest visual exponent of existentialism. He sought to capture, on canvas, the violence, the energy, the futility and the alienation at the heart of human existence. Though he shared something of Nietzsche's 'strong pessimism', he qualified it by saying, 'You can be optimistic and totally without hope. One's basic nature is totally without hope, and yet one's nervous system is made out of optimistic stuff.'

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