Francis Bacon: First Impressions - Sophie de Stempel

In our 'Francis Bacon: First Impressions' series of interviews, each interviewee was asked ‘What were your first impressions upon meeting Francis?’
In this film, artist Sophie de Stempel talks about her first impressions of Bacon's art and meeting Bacon in 1981. Her recollections include Wheeler's fish restaurant, the French Pub, the Colony Room Club, Diana Watson (Bacon's cousin), Lucian Freud, Muriel Belcher, Jessie Lightfoot (Bacon's nanny) and John Edwards.
First Impressions is directed by Harriet Vyner and produced by the Estate of Francis Bacon in partnership with HENI Talks.

[@AlexanderVerney-Elliott-ep7dw]

She is so right to state that Francis Bacon had 'an air about him' that was unlike someone one had seen before - and so very rarely get with human beings. Wonderful interview.

[@TheEstateofFrancisBacon]

Very pleased you liked it. The First Impressions series will continue.

[@paulklee5790]

Bloody brilliant.... thank you....

[@Thoughtcat]

Really lovely interview, thank you 🙏🏻

[@TheEstateofFrancisBacon]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jordangroff8978]

Great vid! I personally think Bacons best paintings came between the mid 1960's - mid 1970's, but theyre all great!

[@aysheaahmed348]

Always so excited to see another video has been posted! Thankyou so much. These interviews really bring Francis to life with so much tenderness and love 🖤🖤🖤

[@johnschuetz5599]

Enjoyed the interview. I did open another window on Bacon- how he spoke to Muriel or his emotional side to his relation with Lucian Freud - perhaps it’s best notation is not knowing everything. Some relationship come to a still stand,one reason or another, one can sense the tone stilled existed Years between them; it‘s a human aspect to honor that belongs to both, it belongs there. Thank you so much for sharing the film.

[@johnoden2857]

The comment that Bacon modeled faces as would a sculptor is very interesting.

[@j.cocteau6945]

Beautiful. Please keep these videos coming, so incredibly amazing...

[@TheEstateofFrancisBacon]

We are pleased that you are enjoying them!

[@maravilhosasanta1825]

I love F.Bacon work they are all amazing!!! Thank you 😍🌹💜⭐🙏🏻👏

[@btate1281]

Another gem of an interview from this series. They're all so touching and so informative. Thank you.

[@TheEstateofFrancisBacon]

Thank you for your kind comment. Editing will soon begin on the next First Impressions video.

[@roymichaeldeanable]

Francis Bacon seems like an ordinary kind of guy As an artist he spent life trying to aim for something Notice he never went to Art college...good for him

[@liamMCR]

There was a previous 'first impressions' that has now been taken down? Enjoyed one that is no longer on youtube..?!

[@TheEstateofFrancisBacon]

All of the First Impressions videos that we have published on our channel are still live: Julia Blackburn, Bella Freud, Michael Clark, Michael Horovitz and Sophie de Stempel. You can see all of them together by clicking on our channel name 'The Estate of Francis Bacon' and then selecting the 'Francis Bacon: First Impressions' playlist. We are working on a next First Impressions at the moment.

[@liamMCR]

@@TheEstateofFrancisBacon I remember in the video the woman spoke about how Francis had a very soft side to him, and how she saw him breakdown into tears when talking about George Dyer. It was a woman in her 50’s maybe, and her talking about meeting Francis while a student I think. The video showed her very realistic pencil portraits of Francis… not making this up it was definitely uploaded! Hopefully can watch it again.

[@ratgirl13]

Bacon reminds me of Robert Blake the American actor-Blake could have played him in a movie.

[@ingridllinas5612]

Like most of his paintings. He had kind of a painful life. Drinking, very aggressive relationships, abuse of confidence, and his final days were very lonesome and depressed. His studio was always a mess, and many of his drawings were stolen as far as read. Men used him until the very end. They were homosexuals but behind doors. To society some were bankers os gigolos.