Abramovich Revealed As Buyer Of Bacon’s ‘Triptych’

Being that he’s one of my favourite painters, I was, like many others, curious to know who was behind the recent purchase of Francis Bacon’s Triptych. It sold for a record $86 million dollars (US), making it the most expensive post-war piece in the world.

Now, I have absolutely no problem with the fact that it was purchased by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. What I do take some offense to is that he purchased it to hang in his London home where it cannot be publicly viewed. Like many great pieces of art that adorn the walls of the super-rich, Bacon’s masterpiece is one that should be, at the very least, loaned to an international gallery of note, such as The Tate in London, for even a brief exhibit so that the public has the opportunity to view it. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see if Mr. Abramovich, who also owns Chelsea FC, will embark on such a venture. The Tate would be the perfect place for the piece to be viewed, and is probably within an easy drive of Abramovich’s home anyway.