Francis Bacon's studio materialises in Dublin

An exact reconstruction of the artist Francis Bacon's London studio was unveiled today at Dublin's Hugh Lane Gallery.

The exhibit is the fruit of three years' work and is described as the most detailed and technically advanced archive of any artist's studio in the world.

The studio was donated to the gallery by Bacon's heir Mr John Edwards and cost some £3 million to relocate: this is not bad value when you consider a museum offered $3 million just for the studio door.

The studio on show has over 7,000 items including 80 works on paper, more than 1,500 photographs as well as books and some dramatically slashed canvases.

The newly designed gallery space housing the studio was the work of prominent British architect David Chipperfield. As well as the studio itself it also has an audio-visual room, an exhibition gallery and a "micro gallery" (or electronic tour).

The project involved cataloguing and removing the entire contents of the studio. It took a team of 10 archaeologists and conservators over three years. The original walls, floor, ceiling and shelves - as well as the famous wooden staircase - can be experienced.

The studio's original address, 7 Reece Mews, south Kensington, was Bacon's home and working space for the last 30 years of his life. The Dublin-born artist produced some of his most famous work in the studio.

The Gallery's director Ms Barbara Dawson said: "The acquisition of Francis Bacon's studio was a great coup and its retrieval and documentation has confirmed our suspicions - we have the definitive archive on Francis Bacon."

Francis Bacon

"The Gallery's innovative approach to retrieving and documenting the contents has resulted in the database of information which will be crucial in the critical analysis of Francis Bacon's work."

Dublin's Lord Mayor Mr Maurice Ahern who officially opened the studio said: "This remarkable cultural donation is the most important received by the gallery since it was established by Sir Hugh Lane in 1908."

Bacon was born in 63 Lower Baggot Street on October 28th in 1909 and is considered by many the most famous "English artist" of the 20th century.