Francis Bacon's bisected nude to sell as single lot with Tony O'Malley's paintings at Christie's

A rediscovered Francis Bacon painting, Figure, estimated at £20,000–£30,000, will be auctioned at Christie's South Kensington on 17 March 2016. The unfinished nude was discarded by Bacon and later acquired by Tony O'Malley, a St. Ives group artist, who cut it in half and painted on the reverse sides. O'Malley's works, Currach, Clare Island and Evening Landscape Tehidy Hospital, now occupy the backs of the two halves. This marks the first time in nearly 60 years the bisected pieces will be displayed together. The lot combines Bacon's and O'Malley's artworks for sale as a single item, despite Bacon's original piece potentially being worth millions if intact. The auction highlights an unusual art historical narrative of reuse and transformation.