Sir Francis Bacon

About this work

This black-and-white portrait shows a serious-faced man in a large, fur-trimmed coat and a wide-brimmed hat. His hands rest on a round object, and a crest with two small figures sits above his head. The border around him is packed with swirling patterns and tiny details, like crowns and scrolls. The text below his chin reads like a title, including his name and death date. This style of drawing—where lines create shadows and textures—is called engraving. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made prints by carving into metal.