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No one summed up the golden life of Francis Bacon better than himself.
“I may live in squalor, but I don’t see why I should drink filth,” said the artist, who lived on good wines, avoided sleeping, and yet, working in his cramped studio, whose garbage-strewn floor looked like a broth of culture for rats: produced canvases of a unique intensity.
But would Bacon, one of whose triptychs sold for a stupendous $142 million (then £89 million) in 2013, have raised a glass for an upcoming exhibition of what purports to be his works, despite that the exhibition, apparently, is sponsored by Laurent Perrier?
At first glance, the exhibition, which takes place later this month at the Century Club in London’s West End, does not appear controversial.
Presenting what are described as “raw and haunting works, ranging from small pencil sketches on novel pages to large mixed-media collages,” it promises to “revisit the themes and motifs that define Bacon’s most famous paintings, including Popes , the crucifixions and the screaming figures”. and distorted faces.”
Francis Bacon’s heirs are dismayed by an exhibition featuring pieces from the Ravarino Collection, described as “a recognized and debated selection of works attributed to Francis Bacon.”
He produced canvases of unique intensity in his cramped studio, whose trash-strewn floor seemed like a breeding ground for rats.
The event at the Century Club is organized by Laurent Perrier
But Francis Bacon’s estate is dismayed. Alerted that the pieces belong to the Ravarino Collection – described as “a recognized and debated selection of works attributed to Francis Bacon” – the Heritage lets out a howl of anguish.
“There are two ongoing cases against Ravarino in Italy,” a spokesperson tells me, explaining that one is “criminal and another civil (although) related to fraud and forgery.”
“We are not familiar with the Century Club,” adds the spokesperson, “but we are surprised and disappointed to see Laurent-Perrier being associated with such an event.”
Arnaud Richard, the brand’s marketing and communications director, cannot answer my questions, while the Century Club declines to comment.
Perhaps appropriately, the exhibition is titled “ATTRIBUTED: Francis Bacon.” Last words for Bacon, who died in 1992 at the age of 82. “Champagne for my friends,” he liked to say, “and pain for my false friends.”
Beatrice’s stepson is mom’s son.
Architect and TV host Dara Huang apparently likes nothing more than posing for photographs. And now his son, Christopher, known as Wolfie, is learning from the master.
Eight-year-old Wolfie, whose stepmother is Princess Beatrice, appears in a photograph reclining on a sofa, imitating his 41-year-old American mother in her poses for promotional material for a shoe designer.
Architect and TV host Dara Huang apparently likes nothing more than posing for photos.
Now his son Christopher, known as Wolfie, is following in his footsteps. He appears in this photograph lying on a sofa.
“I couldn’t help but notice my son’s striking resemblance to my recent photo shoot for Stuart Weitzman,” says Dara. ‘I thought it was too funny not to share. I think he has the job?
A new role that Wolfie will take on in the spring is that of half-brother to the second child Beatrice is expecting with her father, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The couple already have a daughter, Sienna, three years old.
Don’t fly for me in Argentina… Macca abandons the Union flag
Typically the most patriotic of pop stars, Sir Paul McCartney abandoned his show-ending tradition of waving the Union flag for his concert in Buenos Aires.
The former Beatle usually ends his performances by waving three flags: the United Kingdom, the country of origin, and the LGBTQ flag.
Sir Paul McCartney abandoned his tradition of waving the Union flag at the end of his performance in Buenos Aires, opting only to display the flag of Argentina and the LGBTQ flag.
McCartney playing the piano during his concert in Argentina. His decision game two days after the nation’s government threatened to take back the Falklands.
However, in Buenos Aires, he waved only two: the Argentine flag and the LGBTQ flag, pictured. At his previous concert in Uruguay, Sir Paul had all three. So what caused his sudden national embarrassment?
His spokesman declines to comment. But two days earlier, the Argentine government threatened to retake the Falklands, putting British troops on “red alert.”
Kirstie’s cousin opens a new pub
Kirstie Allsopp’s cousin Jamie, who has revived the family brewery, today opens his new pub, the Blue Stoops, where the trendy Kensington Wine Rooms bar once stood in west London.
But he removed a plaque honoring his link to a Donald Trump scandal. “I don’t want the place to be political,” Jamie tells me.
Jamie Allsopp (pictured with Jacquetta Wheeler) opens her new pub, Blue Stoops, in Kensington today
The plaque read: “Donald Trump got into trouble here when a wine chat led to Russian hacking,” referring to a 2016 meeting between then-Trump adviser George Papadopoulos and Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer. , which triggered the Mueller report.
Cooper organizes party for the Disney team
Dame Jilly Cooper was so delighted by Disney’s adaptation of her gripping novel Rivals that she threw a lavish party for the cast and crew. “I was very excited to have so many stars on my lawn,” says the author.
Dame Jilly Cooper hosted a party for the Disney cast and crew working on the adaptation of her novel Rivals.
‘I also invited some of my friends: Richard and Judy Madeley (Richard is a long-time Rivals fan), Andrew Parker Bowles and Rupert Lycett Green, who were two of my original inspirations for Rupert Campbell-Black. This was due to her charm and glamour, not Rupert’s mischievous behaviour.
“It was a lovely evening and we drank buckets of champagne.” We wouldn’t have it any other way, Jilly.
Remembered, ‘third man’ at center of Westminster scandal
The “third man” (or was it the fourth?) in one of the most serious sex scandals in politics has died. The death of Labor peer Lord Leitch was announced in the House of Lords on Monday. He was a most unlikely Romeo.
Lord Sandy Leitch was the most conventional of guys, but he became entangled in the world of man-eater Kimberly Quinn while she was an executive at the Spectator.
Sandy Leitch, a personal finance magnate, was outwardly the most conventional of guys: he wore glasses and spoke softly. However, he became entangled in the world of American man-eater Kimberly Quinn when she was an executive at The Spectator in the Tony Blair years.
She cheated on her husband Stephen Quinn by having simultaneous affairs with Home Secretary David Blunkett and parliamentary cartoonist Simon Hoggart.
Leitch, then single, also had a brief spell at the wicket, and was so embarrassed when the episode became public that he managed to hide it from his Wikipedia entry.
