 When Bacon undertook the series late in 1948 he was something of a two @-@ hit wonder . He had success in 1944 with Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion and to a lesser extent with Painting ( 1946 ) , both of which were highly regarded but viewed as sensationalist . The exhibition was a success , and marked his critical breakthrough . Until then , he had been highly regarded but capable of only occasional brilliance . The full show established him in the minds of critics as , according to Michael Peppiatt , " more of a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary scene " . While some found his images horrifying and unnerving , they wrote about him all the same , sealing his reputation as the enfant terrible of post @-@ war British art . The critic for The Observer wrote , " The recent paintings ... horrifying as they are , cannot be ignored . Technically they are superb , and the masterly handling of large areas of pearly grey , flushed with a sudden pink or green , only makes me regret the more that the artist 's gift should have been brought to subjects so esoteric " . 
 When Bacon undertook the series late in 1948 he was something of a two @-@ hit wonder . He had success in 1944 with Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion and to a lesser extent with Painting ( 1946 ) , both of which <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> highly regarded but viewed as sensationalist . The exhibition was a success , and marked his critical breakthrough . Until then , he <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> been highly regarded but capable of only occasional brilliance . The full show<a href='been_done' title='3'><mark></mark></a> established him in the minds of critics as , according to Michael Peppiatt , " more of a force to be reckoned with in the contemporary scene " . While some found his images horrifying and unnerving , they<a href='been_done' title='4'><mark></mark></a> wrote about him all the same , sealing his reputation as the enfant terrible of post @-@ war British art . The critic for The Observer wrote , " The recent paintings ... horrifying as they are , cannot be ignored . Technically they are superb , and the masterly handling of large areas of pearly grey , flushed with a sudden pink or green , only <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>makes</mark></a> me regret the more <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>that</mark></a>the artist <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>gift should <a href='been_done' title='8'><mark>have</mark></a> been brought to subjects so esoteric " . 
When Bacon undertook the series late in 1948 he was something of a 2 @-@ hit wonder . He had success in 1944 with Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion and to a lesser extent with Painting ( 1946 ) , both of which was highly regarded but viewed as sensationalist . The exhibition was a success , and marked his critical breakthrough . Until then , he done been highly regarded but capable of only occasional brilliance . The full show done established him in da minds of critics as , according to Michael Peppiatt , " more of a force to b reckoned with in the contemporary scene " . While sum found his images horrifying and unnerving , they been wrote about em all the same , sealing his reputation as tdaenfant terrible of post @-@ war British art . The critic for The Observer wrote , " Thdaecent paintings ... horrifying as they r , cannot bbignored . Technically they are superb , and thedasterly handling of large areas of pearly grey , flushed with a sudden pink or green , only make me regret the dae the artist  gift should done been brought to subjects so esoteric " .