Bacon, decidedly a member of high society, does not seem to have had any regular employment.
She most likely lived off of family money and the money her husband earned as a businessman.
In any case, due to her connections with others of high social rank and wealth, as well as her interest in the art world, she was the subject of many paintings.

Bacon's close relationship to businessman and art enthusiast, Charles Deering resulted in several well-known artists reproducing her image.
Charles Deering commissioned both Anders Zorn and Roman Casas to paint Bacon's portrait.
In 1917 American Art News heralded Zorn's painting of Mrs. Bacon as "the finest woman’s portrait the Swedish modern master ever produced."
This portrait is said to have been admired by both John Singer Sargent and James Whistler when it was exhibited in 1897 at the Paris Salon.
Zorn also produced a half-length portrait of Bacon in Paris in 1891, two years before his first trip to the United States.
It was owned first by Charles Deering, and is now in a private collection.
Casas painted Bacon on one of his visits to New York, in his studio at the Waldorf Hotel.
As well as providing the subject, Deering also influenced the style of Casas' painting.
He insisted that Bacon be painted in a manilla shawl, because he saw her as "the Spanish type."
Casas apparently drew a caricature of this painting, with Deering's face in place of Bacon's, and gave it to Deering as a gift.

It was either her cousin, Edith Vanderbilt, or Charles Deering who commissioned John Singer Sargent's 1896 portrait of Mrs. Bacon.
This painting is currently housed in the Biltmore House in North Carolina.
American Art News also mentions that Carrier-Belleuse painted a full-length portrait of Mrs. Bacon, though this portrait has not been identified.
In addition, Carl A. Weidner and Fredrika Weidner produced a small oval pendant, decorated with a watercolor portrait of Bacon painted on ivory.

In some cases she used her position to do good works.
For example, to support the war effort Bacon donated several paintings to the Red Cross and other war work societies, to be auctioned off at the societies’ benefit.
Bacon, decidedly a member of high society, does not seem to have had any regular employment. She most likely lived off of family money and the money her husband earned as a businessman. In any case, due to her connections with others of high social rank and wealth, as well as her interest in the art world, she was the subject of many paintings.
Bacon's close relationship to businessman and art enthusiast, Charles Deering resulted in several well-known artists reproducing her image. Charles Deering commissioned both Anders Zorn and Roman Casas to paint Bacon's portrait. In 1917 American Art News heralded Zorn's painting of Mrs. Bacon as "the finest woman’s portrait the Swedish modern master ever produced." This portrait is said to have been admired by both John Singer Sargent and James Whistler when it was exhibited in 1897 at the Paris Salon. Zorn also produced a half-length portrait of Bacon in Paris in 1891, two years before his first trip to the United States. It was owned first by Charles Deering, and is now in a private collection. Casas painted Bacon on one of his visits to New York, in his studio at the Waldorf Hotel. As well as providing the subject, Deering also influenced the style of Casas' painting. He insisted that Bacon be painted in a manilla shawl, because he saw her as "the Spanish type." Casas apparently drew a caricature of this painting, with Deering's face in place of Bacon's, and gave it to Deering as a gift.
It was either her cousin, Edith Vanderbilt, or Charles Deering who commissioned John Singer Sargent's 1896 portrait of Mrs. Bacon. This painting is currently housed in the Biltmore House in North Carolina. American Art News also mentions that Carrier-Belleuse painted a full-length portrait of Mrs. Bacon, though this portrait has not been identified. In addition, Carl A. Weidner and Fredrika Weidner produced a small oval pendant, decorated with a watercolor portrait of Bacon painted on ivory.
In some cases she used her position to do good works. For example, to support the war effort Bacon donated several paintings to the Red Cross and other war work societies, to be auctioned off at the societies’ benefit.
Virginia P. Bacon