Isabel Nicholas, who became Isabel Rawsthorne by her third marriage, was an artist. Sexually liberated in the wake of the existentialism, she was the muse and lover of Alberto Giacometti just before and just after the Second World War and contributed to the development of the new artistic style emphasizing the psychological expression for superseding the figurative realism.
The art of Francis Bacon is deeply rooted in Giacometti's. Francis knew Isabel for many years when she introduced him to Alberto for the first time in 1965.
Alberto's death in January 1966 triggers or reinforces the idea of Isabel to create diptychs for displaying opposites such as life and death. Always eager to interpret the character and behavior of his closest friends, Francis painted in 1967 a diptych gathering the portraits of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer.
This oil on canvas composed of two elements 35 x 30 cm in a single frame is estimated £ 8M for sale by Christie's in London on June 30, lot 36.
The estrangement between both characters is obvious and their dialogue seems impossible. The woman is in front view and the man in profile. The gaze of Isabel is sideways and George's eyes are barely open.
They shared their deserved reputation as heavy drinkers and the fascination they exercised over Francis. They were opposite one another by their role in society. George, the pretty thug, was psychologically fragile. Isabel, intellectual and activist, was an independent woman.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's.
The art of Francis Bacon is deeply rooted in Giacometti's. Francis knew Isabel for many years when she introduced him to Alberto for the first time in 1965.
Alberto's death in January 1966 triggers or reinforces the idea of Isabel to create diptychs for displaying opposites such as life and death. Always eager to interpret the character and behavior of his closest friends, Francis painted in 1967 a diptych gathering the portraits of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer.
This oil on canvas composed of two elements 35 x 30 cm in a single frame is estimated £ 8M for sale by Christie's in London on June 30, lot 36.
The estrangement between both characters is obvious and their dialogue seems impossible. The woman is in front view and the man in profile. The gaze of Isabel is sideways and George's eyes are barely open.
They shared their deserved reputation as heavy drinkers and the fascination they exercised over Francis. They were opposite one another by their role in society. George, the pretty thug, was psychologically fragile. Isabel, intellectual and activist, was an independent woman.
I invite you to watch the video shared by Christie's.
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