DERRIERE LE MIROIR

First edition. Inscribed by Francis Bacon to the director of the Tate Gallery. Publisher's original colour lithograph card covers. The contents with five single sheet colour lithographs and one folding triptych colour lithograph, loose as issued. Further illustrations throughout. The text by Michel Leiris and an interview with Bacon by David Sylvester is in French. An excellent near fine copy, the covers without tears or creasing, the contents bright throughout. A very attractive, complete example of the Francis Bacon issue of Derriere Le Miroir.

Inscribed by the artist in green pen on the inside cover "To Norman Reid / with all my best wishes / Francis Bacon". A fabulous association copy. The recipient, Sir Norman Reid served as the Director of the Tate Gallery from 1964 to 1980. During his 16 years as Director, through major acquisitions and ground-breaking exhibitions, he transformed an English institution into an internationally acclaimed museum recognised as one of the leading museums of modern art in the world. A trained painter himself, Reid formed strong relationships with several major artists that led to important works being donated to the Gallery. Mark Rothko's Seagram murals and work by Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo and Henry Moore were all gifted to the Tate largely as a result of the personal respect the artists had for its Director. Notably, the year of this publication and presumably Bacon's presentation inscription coincides with the Tate's first purchase of a Francis Bacon painting (Portrait of Isabel Rawsthorne, 1966).