Sir Francis Bacon

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a serious-looking man in a large fur collar and a wide-brimmed hat. He’s holding a book in one hand and resting his chin on the other, with a small skull tucked under his arm. Above his head is a fancy coat of arms with two figures standing on either side. The skull is a quiet hint at his interests—this wasn’t just a regular portrait. The artist used fine lines and shading to give the image depth, making the fur and fabric look textured. Want to see how this style works? Check out engraving.