Friend of Francis Bacon snubs the Tate to give art works to Paris instead

A photograph of Francis Bacon and Barry Joule with the art dealer Catharina Toto Koopman on holiday in Sicily in 1987. Photograph: Barry Joule

An extensive collection of Francis Bacon’s art will be given to France instead of to the Tate following a row between the gallery and one of the artist’s closest friends.

Barry Joule, who was Bacon’s confidant, said he is so frustrated by the Tate’s failure to exhibit an earlier donation of the artist’s work that he has cancelled plans to donate hundreds more items to the gallery.