Francis Bacon was one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century, though his work was considered highly controversial and provocative in its time and perhaps remains so to this day. He was born in Ireland, but later moved and was mainly based in the United Kingdom. He moved into the studio at 7 Reece Mews in 1961, where he lived until his death in 1992.

In 1998, his sole heir, John Edwards, donated the entire belongings of the studio to the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery in Dublin, Ireland. It was deconstructed and painstakingly reconstructed in minute detail, opening to the public in 2001. 

Bacon’s actual home and studio still exist. If you find yourself in South Kensington, it’s a short walk up the Brompton Road to Reece Mews (which connects through to Harrington Road). You will see a striking mural at the entrance to the mews, with Bacon himself in the corner. The home is under private ownership, but Bacon’s time there is denoted by a plaque.