Francis Bacon's 'Man In Blue' portrait may fetch 6M pounds

London, Jan 15 (ANI): Late painter Francis Bacon's portrait 'Man In Blue' is expected to fetch 6 million pounds at an auction.

Man in Blue VI is special as it is one of seven major paintings that Bacon produced in the spring of 1954 and has been held by the same owner since November 1971.

Francis painted it while he was in the middle of a violent relationship with Peter Lacy, a former Spitfire pilot, reports Timesonline.

After his spat with Peter, Bacon left the cottage they shared and checked into a hotel, where he painted the Man in Blue series.

It is a popular notion that they were done from life, with the sitter being an unknown man whom Francis had met at the hotel.

Man in Blue VI is one of Francis' unique creations, which has been exhibited internationally and was also included in the artist's retrospective at the Tate Gallery in 1962.

The painting will be auctioned at the PostWar and Contemporary Art auction at Christie's in London on February 11. (ANI)