Francis Bacon’s Iconic Portrait of Man with Glasses III to Headline Christie’s London Evening Sale

Christie’s is thrilled to present Francis Bacon’s Portrait of Man with Glasses III (1963; estimate: £6,000,000-9,000,000) as a highlight of its 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale on 5 March 2025. From a prominent private British collection, the painting is being offered at auction for the first time.

This iconic work has been extensively exhibited, featured in 17 major retrospectives, and was the cover image for the Francis Bacon/Henry Moore: Flesh and Bone exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum in 2013. Recently, it was displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of Francis Bacon: Human Presence.

The painting reflects Bacon’s early 1960s style, with bold brushstrokes, flashes of raw canvas, and enigmatic spectacles that create a deeply expressive image. The bared teeth, painted with thick impasto, reflect Bacon's desire to “paint the mouth like Monet painted a sunset,” as quoted in Interviews with Francis Bacon by D. Sylvester.

1963 was a pivotal year in Bacon's career, marked by significant exhibitions in London and New York. It was also a time of personal transformation for the artist, fueling new creative energy and masterpieces. Bacon’s technique evolved to include textured surfaces, with the painting celebrating both raw canvas and bold strokes, while the background sparkles with silver.

“Portrait of Man with Glasses III, 1963 is a masterpiece by Francis Bacon. Recently included in the magnificent portrait exhibition Francis Bacon: Human Presence at the National Portrait Gallery, it holds an extraordinary gravitational pull. The painting embodies all of the complex brilliance of the artist who once declared his passion for the mouth and his desire to paint it as Monet had mastered the sunset. From his screaming Popes and howling animals to the enigmatic grins of his cast of friends, the mouth was not only the source of the existential scream but the site of sensuality, laughter and conversation. Portrait of Man with Glasses III features a mouthful of delicate teeth while his glasses slide in the flurry of movement conjured by the artist’s brushstrokes. The sister painting to this wonderful portrait sits in the Seattle Museum of Art. It is a privilege to be offering this iconic picture that holds such an important place in the artist's oeuvre at auction for the first time at Christie’s.” - Katharine Arnold, Vice Chairman of 20th/21st Century Art and Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Europe, at Christie’s London