What Is Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon About?
The premise of Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon in 323 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustling, smoke‑filled streets of 1960s London, the art world pulses with equal parts brilliance and excess. Studios double as salons where avant‑garde ideas clash with the grit of the city’s underbelly, and fashionable cafés give way to dimly lit pubs where reputation is forged over a glass of whiskey. The film captures this bruised‑beauty landscape, letting the viewer feel the electric tension between cultured decadence and the raw, unvarnished life that pulses just beyond the canvas.
Francis Bacon is a celebrated painter whose fierce, brutally honest work mirrors the chaos of his surroundings. Charismatic, unapologetically intense, he moves through his circles of eccentric, well‑connected friends with a mix of disdain and fascination. When a night‑time intrusion leads him to cross paths with George Dyer, a working‑class man whose sudden appearance is as startling as it is intriguing, a tentative understanding ignites. Dyer’s physical presence and restless spirit draw Bacon’s attention, prompting an unexpected invitation that blurs the line between danger and desire.
As the two men begin to share space, their worlds collide in a volatile swirl of art, intimacy, and restless ambition. Dyer is pulled into the loft‑filled gatherings of artists, critics, and bohemians, while Bacon finds himself mesmerized by the undercurrents of the street life that Dyer represents. Their connection is marked by a fierce yearning for validation and a shared hunger for something beyond the ordinary, setting the stage for a relationship that feels both exhilarating and precarious.
The film’s tone is intimate and haunting, its visual style saturated with the chiaroscuro of studio light and night‑time London shadows. A sense of lingering tension pulses beneath every conversation, hinting at the fragile balance between creative brilliance and personal unraveling. This atmospheric portrait invites the audience to linger on the edge of the canvas, where love and artistry intermingle, leaving us eager to discover how far the two men will travel together before the inevitable cracks begin to show.
What Happens in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon?
The complete story of Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon, from the first scene to the last, in 465 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
When George Dyer, who is still a stranger to Francis Bacon, is caught breaking and entering into Bacon’s apartment studio, he seems to be in a bad position if Bacon decides to call for the police. Instead, Bacon sizes him up and, entranced by his physique and good looks, baldly propositions him. Dyer decides to take Bacon up on his proposition and the two sleep together. That night marks the start of an intense, enduring relationship as Bacon begins to introduce Dyer to his circle and to the art world where he is already an established figure.
Bacon pulls Dyer into a world he is comfortable in—a gritty pub scene where reputation and bravado mix with a certain artistic bravura. Dyer starts to take an interest in Bacon’s work, hearing talk of the primitive and brutal edge that defines his art. As the couple begins to live together, Bacon imagines himself as a free agent in an open relationship, occasionally meeting other companions in clubs or during gambling rounds. But Dyer’s reaction to these flings grows increasingly troubled, and at one point his jealousy pushes him toward acting out—stashing drugs in Bacon’s apartment and calling the police to report them. Bacon is arrested, not as a criminal, but as a public formality in a tense moment of accusation and doubt. The rift widens as Dyer’s anger and insecurity burn brighter.
The tension between desire and dependence becomes more acute when Bacon invites Dyer to accompany him on a trip to New York. In a moment of desperation, Dyer stages a suicide attempt by threatening to jump from a rooftop, prompting Bacon to intervene. After calming him, Bacon hands him another large gift—a check for $20,000—and suggests they should also go to Paris together. The couple’s dynamic remains unstable: Dyer’s drinking worsens, he voices grievances about Bacon to Bacon’s friends, and he repeatedly clashes with the police. Meanwhile, Bacon fights to keep his creative projects moving forward and to navigate the pressures of fame and self-identity, all while his social circle indulges in a mix of drugs and alcohol.
As they decide to move their life to Paris, Dyer’s struggles escalate into delirium tremens, and he slips into a dangerous overdose. Bacon’s professional success in Paris does not heal their fractured bond; instead, the strain becomes overwhelming. In the end, Dyer’s grip on life slips away, and the film closes on Bacon alone in his Paris apartment, reflecting on what it was like when Dyer was alive and by his side.
Overall, the film traces a combustible romance between two men, framed by the bohemian circles of their time, where art, desire, fame, and vulnerability collide. It offers a dark, intimate portrait of dependency, creative ambition, and the human cost of living intensely in the limelight.
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Break-in leads to an improbable proposition” to “Bacon's solitary reflection after the loss”. 12 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
Break-in leads to an improbable proposition
George Dyer is caught breaking into Francis Bacon's apartment studio. Rather than calling the police, Bacon makes a bold proposition: if Dyer agrees to sleep with him, he can take whatever he wants tomorrow. Dyer accepts, and they sleep together, sparking an enduring relationship.
When:evening after the break-in Where:Bacon's apartment studio
- 2
A new union into Bacon's world
After their first night together, Bacon begins introducing Dyer to his social circle and to the art world where he is an established figure. Dyer becomes immersed in the scene and starts to see the dynamics of Bacon's artistic life. Their bond deepens as he is drawn into the circle.
When:in the days following the first night Where:Bacon's circle and studio
- 3
Pub nights and artistic conversations
Bacon takes Dyer to the pub scene, where Dyer begins to take an interest in Bacon's art and the discussions about its primitive, brutal qualities. He observes the way Bacon's friends talk about the work and starts forming his own impressions. The couple navigates social life within this creative milieu.
When:shortly after they become a couple Where:local pubs
- 4
Living together and open relationship dynamics
As they begin living together, Bacon embraces a free-agent stance and maintains an open relationship, occasionally meeting others in clubs or at gambling spots. Dyer learns of these flings and, while he tries to accept them, he takes it badly. The arrangement sows undercurrents of tension in their partnership.
When:a few weeks into living together Where:Bacon's apartment
- 5
Jealousy drives drastic actions
Dyer's jealousy pushes him to drastic measures: he stashes drugs in Bacon's apartment and calls the police to report them. This act heightens the strain between them and signals forthcoming turmoil. The tension escalates as suspicion and resentment mount.
When:soon after learning of Bacon's flings Where:Bacon's apartment
- 6
Bacon's arrest marks a turning point
Bacon is arrested, initially treated as a formality. The arrest underscores the fragility of their relationship and how the earlier acts have reverberated through their lives. The couple's dynamic grows more unstable as legal issues loom.
When:soon after the drug incident Where:police station
- 7
New York trip and a crisis on the rooftop
The couple travels to New York, where Dyer stages a suicide threat from a hotel rooftop. Bacon talks him down, offering support and stability. He also gives Dyer a generous gift—a 20,000-dollar check—and hints at taking him to Paris.
When:during the New York trip Where:New York hotel rooftop
- 8
Deciding on Paris and Dyer's worsening drinking
Back from New York, Bacon and Dyer decide to go to Paris together. Dyer's drinking problems intensify, and he complains about Bacon to friends, with occasional run-ins with the police. The relationship remains strained as the couple plans a move abroad.
When:after returning from New York Where:social circles and clubs
- 9
Paris arrival and artistic focus amid turmoil
In Paris, Bacon strives to keep his artistic projects moving forward, even as his fame grows. He and Dyer navigate the pressures of public interest and private tension, with Dyer's behavior increasingly destabilizing the dynamic. Bacon's attention remains split between work and the fraught relationship.
When:upon arrival in Paris / planning phase Where:Paris
- 10
Delirium tremens and a life at risk
Dyer's drinking escalates to delirium tremens, a severe dive into dysfunction that culminates in a dangerous overdose attempt. The episode compounds the emotional strain on Bacon while he tries to keep his work progressing. The couple's trajectory becomes perilously unbalanced.
When:mid-Paris stay Where:Paris
- 11
Dyer's death in Paris
Dyer ultimately succumbs to the drugs, dying in the Paris apartment. Bacon is left alone, grappling with the loss and reflecting on what life was like with Dyer by his side. The end of the relationship marks a solitary turn in Bacon's life.
When:end of Paris stay Where:Paris apartment
- 12
Bacon's solitary reflection after the loss
In the aftermath, Bacon remains alone in his Paris apartment, contemplating the relationship and its impact on his life and art. The film closes on his quiet, introspective moment, highlighting the personal cost of fame and creation. The memory of Dyer lingers as he confronts his own identity and future.
When:final moment Where:Paris apartment
Who Are the Main Characters in Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon?
2 characters, among them Francis Bacon (Derek Jacobi) and George Dyer (Daniel Craig): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Francis Bacon (Derek Jacobi)
Played by Derek Jacobi
Francis Bacon is a celebrated, boundary-pushing artist who pulls Dyer into his life and inner circle. He moves through a world of art, clubs, and public attention, shaping his relationships with a magnetic, combative charm. He struggles with fame, self-identity, and a growing habit of alcohol and drugs as he pursues both art and desire.
- 🎨 Artist
- 🕶️ Eccentric
- 🌀 Complex
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George Dyer (Daniel Craig)
Played by Daniel Craig
George Dyer is Bacon's lover and a striking presence whose charm masks insecurity and a spiraling addiction. He coexists with Bacon's social circle while wrestling with jealousy when Bacon's flings surface. His drinking, drug use, and emotional volatility ultimately push their relationship toward a breaking point.
- 💔 Lover
- 🌀 Turmoil
- 🍷 Addict
Where and When Is Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon Set?
Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon is set in Bacon's apartment studio, New York hotel rooftop and Paris. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Bacon's apartment studio, New York hotel rooftop, Paris
The story revolves around Francis Bacon's private studio apartment, a space where art and life collide. The film also takes the characters into social pubs where Bacon's circle gathers, and follows a trip that includes a New York hotel rooftop scene and a later stay in Paris. These locations trace the arc from intimate creative space to high-society art-world settings.
- 🎨 Studio life
- 🗽 Urban life
- 🗼 European travel
What Are the Themes of Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Open relationship, Art and identity and Addiction and decline.
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01
Open relationship
A volatile, open relationship drives the narrative, revealing how desire and connection coexist with jealousy and possessiveness. The dynamic lets Bacon invite others into his life while Dyer struggles to navigate his place in this unconventional arrangement. The arrangement reflects the film's exploration of freedom versus control in art-world circles. It shows how trust, attraction, and power shift over time.
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02
Art and identity
The film frames Francis Bacon's art as inseparable from his personal identity and relationships. As Bacon pushes his own boundaries, his fame and open life bleed into his creative process and public image. Dyer's presence in the studio and social circles highlights how art, ego, and vulnerability intertwine. The tension between creator and muse underscores the costs of genius.
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03
Addiction and decline
Drinking, drugs, and emotional strain thread through the relationship, accelerating a downward spiral. Dyer's dependency and insomnia clash with Bacon's drive to produce and perform in social spaces. The film tracks how addiction complicates love, fidelity, and artistic ambition. The later Paris chapters amplify the tragedy as both men confront mortality and memory.
What Kind of Film Is Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Sad
A dark and intense portrait of a volatile artist-lover relationship, defined by codependency, addiction, and psychological turmoil, set within a gritty, bohemian world.
- intense
- melancholic
- volatile
- oppressive
- claustrophobic
- unsettling
- destructive romance
- artist's life
- addiction
- jealousy
Content notes: suicide attempt, drug overdose, substance abuse.
Quiz
How well do you remember Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon? Test yourself on the story.
