LACMA Receives Francis Bacon Triptych 'Three Studies of Lucian Freud' as Bequest from Elaine Wynn
On September 9, 2025, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced the acquisition of Francis Bacon’s triptych Three Studies of Lucian Freud (1969) as a bequest from the late Elaine Wynn. Wynn was a philanthropist and co-chair of LACMA’s board of trustees. The work is the first by Bacon to enter the museum’s collection. It is the only painting by the artist in a Los Angeles public collection and the only triptych by Bacon in a California public collection.
The Signal
The bequest adds a key Post-War piece to LACMA’s holdings and positions the museum as the sole public repository in Los Angeles for a Bacon painting. Collectors and curators will note the rarity of triptychs by the artist entering U.S. public collections through private philanthropy. The gift reflects ongoing institutional strategies to secure major works via board-level bequests rather than purchases.
- Artists: Francis Bacon
- People: Elaine Wynn
- Museums: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Locations: Los Angeles
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