Monte Carlo Casino

Being a seasoned gambler, Bacon was a regular client of the Casino from his early stays in MonteCarlo.

“[…] I always feel with a little clever manipulation the Casino would buy our pictures.”

Bacon writing to Graham and Kathleen Sutherland
from Hôtel Ré, 30 December 1946

Hôtel Ré 3 avenue Saint-Charles

Hôtel Ré was Bacon’s first official residence when he moved to Monaco in 1946. He lived there from 5 July 1946 to 1947, with his nanny Jessie Lightfoot and Eric Hall, his companion and patron.

Hôtel Ré, Monte Carlo (1940s)

© Monte-Carlo SBM

The building in 2011

© MB Art Collection

Francis Bacon
Landscape with Pope/Dictator (c. 1946)

At Hôtel Ré, Bacon painted his first popes, mainly inspired by Velázquez’ Portrait of Pope Innocent X (c.1650), which haunted and obsessed Bacon for years afterwards, leading him to produce over fifty variations on the subject.

“I am working on 3 sketches of the Velázquez portrait of Pope Innocent II [sic].”

Bacon writing to Graham Sutherland
from Hôtel Ré, 19 October 1946

Villa Souka-Hati
Avenue Princesse Grace (formerly boulevard des Bas-Moulins)

Bacon lived at Villa Souka-Hati with Jessie Lightfoot and Eric Hall from 6 October 1947 to 6 October 1948, and remained a resident of the Villa with Jessie Lightfoot until spring 1949.

The Villa was demolished in 1976.

Façade of Villa Souka-Hati, Monte Carlo (c. 1950)

© Médiathèque de Monaco / Fonds Régional

West wing of Villa Souka-Hati, Monte Carlo (1950s)

© Médiathèque de Monaco / Fonds Régional

Villa Souka-Hati viewed from Larvotto Beach, Monaco (c. 1970)

© G.Luci – Archives du Palais Princier de Monaco

Site of Villa Souka-Hati, Monte Carlo (2011)

© MB Art Collection

Francis Bacon, Head II (1949)

© MB Art Collection

“I am at the moment working on some heads which I like better than any I have done before.”

Bacon writing to Arthur Jeffress from Souka-Hati

Café de Paris place du Casino

Bacon was a regular customer at the Café de Paris.

Café de Paris, Monte Carlo, 1980s
© Monte-Carlo SBM

Hôtel de Paris place du Casino

From the late 1940s, Bacon used to dine regularly at Hôtel de Paris.

Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo (c. 1950)

© Monte-Carlo SBM

Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo (1980s)

© Monte-Carlo SBM

Hôtel Hermitage square Beaumarchais

Bacon outside Hôtel Hermitage (1984)

MB Art Collection

Hôtel Balmoral 12 avenue de la Costa

Bacon was a regular resident at Hôtel Balmoral from 1974 until 1990.

Hôtel Balmoral, Monte Carlo

© G.P. Ferreyrolles

Hôtel Balmoral, Monte Carlo

© G.P. Ferreyrolles

Photograph taken from room 681 by Bacon or John Edwards, 1986

Photograph taken from room 681 by Bacon or John Edwards, 1986

Villa Frontalière Les Révoires Supérieures

Bacon rented Villa Frontalière from spring 1949 to the early 1950s.

He rented most of the Villa and had his studio on the top floor.

Doorway of Villa Frontalière (photo dating from the 1970s) before its renovation by the Bergonzi Family, current owner

© Famille Bergonzi

Villa Frontalière (2011)

© MB Art Collection

“I have found a villa with what I hope will be a wonderful room to work in at the top of the house with windows all around […]”

Bacon writing to Erica Brausen from Villa Frontalière

Villa Minerve 2 avenue de la Costa

From 1947 Bacon lived at Villa Minerve with Jessie Lightfoot and Eric Hall.

Villa Minerve (2011)
© MB Art Collection

“I have a painting for you of Monte Carlo […] if you should care for it I would love you to have it.”

Bacon writing to Sir Colin Anderson from Villa Minerve

Monte Carlo Casino Garden

Francis Bacon in the Monte Carlo Casino gardens (1986)
Photo: John Edwards
MB Art Collection

Chatham “Rosie’s” Bar 11 avenue d’Ostende

Bacon was a regular customer of Chatham bar in the 1980s.

Chatham “Rosie’s” bar

(photographer unknown)

“Rosie’s” bar

Photo and © Michael R. Hewett

Inside the bar (1980s or early 1990s)

Photo and © Tony Applewhite

Inside the bar (1980s or early 1990s)

Photo and © Tony Applewhite

View from the Trocadéro residence terrace
Square Marcel Pagnol, place des Moulins

Francis Bacon, Monaco (1986)
Photo: John Edwards

MB Art Collection

Monte Carlo Casino Terraces

Reinhard Hassert and Francis Bacon (1981)
Photo and © Eddie Batache

Photo and © Eddy Batache
MB Art Collection

Francis Bacon walking on the terraces of the Monte Carlo Casino
Photo: John Edwards

MB Art Collection

Le Pinocchio 30 rue Comte Félix Gastaldi

Le Pinocchio was among the Italian restaurants frequented by Bacon in the 1980s.

© MB Art Collection

Park Palace Residence avenue de la Costa

Bacon visiting a flat at the Park Palace Residence (1986)
Photo: John Edwards
MB Art Collection

Pulcinella 17 rue du Portier

In the 1980s, Bacon was a regular customer of this Italian restaurant with his friend John Pelling.

© MB Art Collection

Larvotto’s Beach

Francis Bacon, Monaco (November 1981)
Photo and © Eddy Batache
MB Art Collection

Rampoldi 3, avenue des Spélugues

Bacon was a customer of this restaurant offering Mediterranean cuisine.

Rampoldi, Monte Carlo
© DR