In 1959 British artist Francis Bacon left an unfinished painting in Cornwall, where it was later cut in two by Irish artist Tony O’Malley and two new paintings were done on the back.
Now regarded as one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, Bacon painted the work in 1959 while he and his lover Ron Belton were staying in St Ives in Cornwall.
However, after a flaming row with Belton, Bacon returned to London and left the painting, called Figure, and other works behind. Bacon’s landlady gave the discarded works to local artists and the unfinished Figure was handed to an Irish artist, Tony O’Malley, who some time later cut it in two.
It is believed O’Malley had been approached by a dealer who propositioned him to fraudulently ‘complete’ the painting and in disgust he had split the board in two.
Source: The artwork that could have fetched millions before it was cut in HALF
