A painting by Irish artist Francis Bacon, which was owned by British author Roald Dahl, is to be sold at auction in London on July 1.
Bacon’s work is currently in high demand after one of his paintings last year sold for a record-breaking amount and was rumoured to have been snapped by the Qatar Museums Authority.
“Following on from Christie’s success in making a world record for Bacon’s The Three Studies of Lucian Freud, 1969, which sold in November 2013 for $142.4 million, the highest price ever paid at auction for a work of art, Study for Head of Lucian Freud connects three titans of the arts from the 20th century, and draws together Bacon, Freud and Dahl at the height of their artistic powers,” said Francis Outred, Christie’s Head of Post-War & Contemporary Art, Europe.
The latest Bacon painting was bought by Dahl in 1967 for £2,850 ($4,768) with the income from the publication of his iconic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Proceeds from the sale of The Three Studies of Lucian Freud will be used by the Dahl family to continue the philanthropic work started by the author through his two charities: Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity and The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
Viewing of the painting will take place in Basel on June 18 at the Hotel Les Trois Rois and in London from June 27 until the auction on July 1, which will take place at Christie’s King Street offices.
The lot price for the painting has been estimated at £8m – £12m ($13.38m – $20m).
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