Francis Bacon, British 1909-1992- ''Study for Bullfight No.1'', 1971 (Sabatier 10); lithograph in colours on Arches paper, published by Musee du Grand Palais, Paris, sheet trimmed to near edge of image, total 126.5x116.5cm, (ARR) Literature: Bruno Sabatier, Francis Bacon: The Graphic Work, no. 10 Note: The subject of the corrida was most likely explored by Bacon after his visits to the South of France and Spain where he would have had the opportunity of encountering the bullfight first hand. This, combined with his admiration for Picasso's work, in particular Tauromachie, would have encouraged him to paint this subject. In 1969, Bacon painted Study for a bullfight no. 1 and Second version of study for a bullfight. Two years later, in 1971, on the occasion of Bacon's retrospective in the Grand Palais, Paris, a large lithograph was published based on the painting.

In a white wooden frame with perspex/cellophane front unexamined out of frame apparently unsigned and un-numbered, aside from the edition of 150 discolouration round the edges of the paper small tear of 3.5cm vertically long near the top left corner 3 scratch marks to the paper on the left hand side tape mark discolouration to margins creases along bottom edge of the paper/ruckling the print has been trimmed in the margins otherwise in good general condition examined out of frame, it is not stuck down old tape sticking up at centre top edge on the reverse there are three areas of sellotape residue and brown staining throughout recto- remains of sellotape on left and right and glue/sellotape residue on edge of image trimmed unevenly on edge of image on top and bottom edges approx 1 cm of sheet showing on left and right edges significant tear top edge and three further tears across top edge surface nicks top left area of sheet white drip lower right creasing and ruckling predominantly in lower left and right areas of sheet grubby, particularly in top left section and upper right orange section drippy marks upper left