This is the book that accompanies a landmark exhibition organised jointly by the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, and the State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, to bring together works by Francis Bacon alongside masterpieces from the Hermitage collection. The book and exhibition focus on Bacon's known influences and inspirations, and explore his fascination with artists such as Rembrandt, Velasquez, Titian, Michelangelo, Rodin, Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne and Degas. The thirteen paintings by Bacon in the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection form the core group by the artist, alongside paintings, sculptures and artefacts from the Hermitage that exemplify the theme of the project. Photographs from the Hugh Lane archive in Dublin further explore the artist's working methods. With text by leading Bacon experts, and designed by John Morgan Studio, London, it is a book that will offer intriguing new insights into the life and work of one of the twentieth century's most famous artists.