Michael Peppiatt

A new selection of letters, statements, and interviews reveal the preoccupations, thoughts, and ideas of Francis Bacon, one of the 20th century's most influential and important artists. The documents selected for Francis Bacon: A Self-Portrait in Words illustrate Bacon's sharp wit and ability to express complex ideas in highly personal, memorable language. Included here are not only letters to friends,...

The Times and Waterstones Best Art Book of 2023 'Marvellous . . . intimate and insightful . . . reads like a novel by Samuel Beckett’ Paul Theroux A portrait of one of the twentieth century’s greatest sculptors from one of our most eminent art historians Today the work of Alberto Giacometti is world-famous and his sculptures sell for record-breaking...

THE TIMES AND WATERSTONES BEST ART BOOK OF 2023 'Intimate and insightful . . . reads like a novel by Samuel Beckett’ Paul Theroux A portrait of one of the twentieth century’s greatest sculptors from one of our most eminent art historians Today, the work of Alberto Giacometti is world-famous, and his sculptures sell for record-breaking prices. But from his...

Engaging encounters, personal anecdotes and jargon-free critical insights into some of the liveliest creative minds in modern art, by an international art world insider. Michael Peppiatt has been studying, meeting, and writing about artists for almost sixty years. In this brilliant selection of his biographical writing, he introduces us to some of the best-known artists of the modern age, from...

Francis Bacon was one of the most elusive and enigmatic creative geniuses of the twentieth century. Despite his avowed aim to simplify both himself and his art, he remained a deeply complex person. Bacon was keenly aware of this underlying contradiction, and whether talking or painting, he strove consciously towards absolute clarity and simplicity, calling himself 'simply complicated'. Until now,...