Francis Bacon Triptych Leaving Tehran

“A major triptych by Francis Bacon is about to see the light after languishing for more than 30 years in the store of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. Two Figures Lying on a Bed With Attendants (1968) was bought, having been shown in Europe in 1972, by the wife of the last shah of Iran. It became part of the collection of the Tehran museum, but it is thought to have been on display there only once in 30 years.” The paintings were discovered by the director of the Tate Britain museum while he was vacationing in Tehran, and an exchange of works was worked out to bring the Bacon works to London.