EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Why Francis Bacons estate is sizzling with outrage

No one summarised the gilded gutter life of Francis Bacon better than the man himself.

‘I might live in squalor, but I don’t see why I should drink filth,’ said the artist, who fuelled himself on fine wines, eschewed sleep and yet – working in his cramped studio, whose rubbish-heaped floor looked like a breeding ground for rats – produced canvases of unique intensity.

But would Bacon, one of whose triptychs sold for the stupendous sum of $142million (then £89million) in 2013, have raised a glass to a forthcoming exhibition of what purport to be his works – even though the show is, seemingly, sponsored by Laurent-Perrier?

On the face of it, the exhibition, being held later this month at the Century Club in London’s West End, seems uncontroversial. 

Featuring what are described as ‘raw and unsettling works, ranging from small pencil sketches on novel pages to large mixed-media collages’, it promises to ‘revisit the themes and motifs that define Bacon’s more famous paintings, including popes, crucifixions, screaming figures, and distorted faces’.

Francis Bacons estate is appalled at an exhibition with pieces from the Ravarino Collection – described as ‘a renowned and debated selection of works attributed to Francis Bacon’

He produced canvases of unique intensity in his cramped studio, whose rubbish-heaped floor looked like a breeding ground for rats

The event at the Century Club is hosted by Laurent Perrier

But the Estate of Francis Bacon is appalled. Alerted that the pieces are from the Ravarino Collection – described as ‘a renowned and debated selection of works attributed to Francis Bacon’ – the Estate issues a howl of anguish. 

‘There are two ongoing cases against Ravarino in Italy,’ a spokesman tells me, explaining that one is ‘criminal and one civil [though] related to fraud and faking.

‘We do not know the Century Club,’ adds the spokesman, ‘but are surprised and disappointed to see Laurent-Perrier associating with such an event.’

Arnaud Richard, marketing & communication director for the brand, is unable to respond to my inquiries, while the Century Club declines to comment.

Wisely, perhaps, the exhibition is entitled “ATTRIBUTED: Francis Bacon”. Last word to Bacon, who died in 1992 aged 82. ‘Champagne for my friends,’ he liked to say ‘– and pain for my sham friends.’

Beatrices stepson is mummys boy

Architect and television presenter Dara Huang ­apparently enjoys nothing more than posing for pictures. And now her son, Christopher, known as Wolfie, is learning from the master.

Wolfie, eight, whose stepmother is Princess Beatrice, appears in a photograph lying on top of a sofa, imitating his American-born mother, 41, in her poses for a shoe designer’s promotional material.

Architect and television presenter Dara Huang ­apparently enjoys nothing more than posing for pictures

Now her son Christopher, known as Wolfie is following in her footsteps, appears in this photograph lying on top of a sofa

‘I couldn’t help but notice my son’s uncanny resemblance to my recent photoshoot for ­Stuart Weitzman,’ Dara says. ‘I thought it was too funny not to share. I think he’s got the job?’

One new role Wolfie will be taking on in the spring is as half-brother to the second child ­Beatrice is expecting with his father, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The couple already have a three-year-old daughter Sienna.

Dont fly for me in Argentina... Macca ditches Union flag 

Usually the most patriotic of pop stars, Sir Paul McCartney ditched his end of show tradition of waving the Union flag for his Buenos Aires concert.

The former Beatle typically finishes performances by waving three flags: the UK’s, that of the home nation, and the LGBTQ flag. 

Sir Paul McCartney ditched his tradition of waving the Union flag at the end of his performance in Buenos Aires, opting only to show Argentinas and the LGBTQ flag

McCartney playing the piano during his gig in Argentina. His decision game two days after the nations government threatened to recapture the Falklands

However, in Buenos Aires, he waved only two: Argentina’s and the LGBTQ flag, pictured. At his previous concert in Uruguay, Sir Paul had all three. So what caused his sudden national shame?

His spokesman declines to comment. But two days earlier, the Argentine government threatened to recapture the Falklands, putting British troops on ‘red alert’.

Kirsties cousin opens new pub 

Kirstie Allsopps cousin Jamie, who’s revived his family brewery, today opens his new pub, the Blue Stoops, where the trendy Kensington Wine Rooms bar once stood in west London. 

But he’s taken down a plaque honouring its link to a Donald Trump scandal. ‘I don’t want the place to be political,’ Jamie tells me. 

Jamie Allsopp (pictured with Jacquetta Wheeler) opens his new pub, the Blue Stoops, in Kensington today

The plaque read: ‘Donald Trump got into trouble here when a chat over wine turned to Russian hacking’ – referring to a 2016 meeting between Trump’s then adviser George Papadopoulos and Australia’s high commissioner Alexander Downer, which sparked the Mueller report. 

Cooper throws party for Disney crew 

Dame Jilly Cooper was so delighted with the Disney adaptation of her steamy novel Rivals that she threw a lavish party for the cast and crew. ‘I was so touched to have so many stars on my lawn,’ the author says.

Dame Jilly Cooper threw a party for Disney cast and crew working on the adaptation of her novel Rivals

‘I also invited some of my friends: Richard & Judy Madeley (Richard is a long term fan of Rivals), Andrew Parker Bowles and Rupert ­Lycett Green who were two of my original inspirations for Rupert Campbell-Black. This was because of their charm and glamour, not for any of Rupert’s naughty behaviour.

‘It was a lovely evening and we drank buckets of champagne.’ We wouldn’t have it any other way, Jilly.

Remembered, third man at heart of Westminster scandal 

The ‘third man’ (or was he the fourth?) in one of the riper sex scandals in politics has died. Labour peer Lord Leitch’s death was announced in the House of Lords on Monday. He was a most unlikely Romeo.

Lord Sandy Leitch was the most conventional of chaps, but got himself entangled in the world of man-eater Kimberly Quinn while she was an executive for the Spectator 

A personal finance tycoon, Sandy Leitch was outwardly the most conventional of chaps, being bespectacled and softly spoken. Yet he got himself entangled in the world of American man-eater Kimberly Quinn when she was an executive at The Spectator in the Tony Blair years. 

She cheated on her husband Stephen Quinn by having simultaneous affairs with home secretary David Blunkett and parliamentary sketchwriter Simon Hoggart.

Leitch, then a bachelor, also had a shortish spell at the wicket, and was so covered with embarrassment when the episode became public he contrived to have it kept from his Wikipedia entry.

Katherines husbands tactic to keep daughter off changing her looks 

Katherine Ryans husband, Bobby, has an unusual way of putting their teenage daughter, Violet, off experimenting with her looks. 

Katherine Ryan visits a diner with her daughter Violet (right) in Parental Guidance

‘She shaved a couple of stripes in her eyebrow,’ the comedian tells Amanda Wakeley’s Style DNA podcast. 

Bobby responded by doing the same. ‘He went, “You look ridiculous, see? You get a tattoo, I’m getting a tattoo...” Bobby’s going to be looking like a sl*g.’