Hot Bacon

Next to the Van Gogh of the story below, Sotheby's New York will also auction two important works by Francis Bacon in November. The one depicted here, 'Study for Bullfight No.1, 2nd version' (1969) is estimated to sell above $35 million. As the press release notes: "The offering of these paintings follows the success of last season’s sale of Bacon’s Study for Innocent X, 1962, which sold at Sotheby’s New York for $52.7 million, a record for the artist at auction, and his Self Portrait, 1978, which sold at Sotheby’s London for $43 million, the second highest price achieved for a work by the artist." In other words, Francis Bacon is extremely hot right now.