Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Bacon is immediately attracted to George Dyer's physical appearance, his physique and good looks. Rather than treating Dyer as a criminal, Bacon sees an opportunity for sexual encounter and makes a bold proposition: if Dyer sleeps with him tonight, he can take whatever he wants from the apartment tomorrow. Dyer accepts, marking the beginning of their intense relationship.

• burglar
• proposition
• attraction
• first night
• francis bacon
• george dyer

Dyer discovers that Bacon maintains an open relationship, occasionally meeting other companions in clubs and gambling spots. Consumed by jealousy and insecurity, Dyer decides to frame Bacon by stashing drugs in his apartment and then calling the police to report them. This drastic act strains their relationship further and leads to Bacon's arrest, though as a formality rather than a serious criminal charge.

• jealousy
• drugs
• police
• betrayal
• frame
• arrest

Dyer dies from a drug overdose in the Paris apartment. His drinking had escalated to delirium tremens, a severe condition caused by alcohol withdrawal, during their time in Paris. Despite Bacon's attempts to keep his artistic projects moving forward, Dyer's addiction becomes fatal, and he ultimately succumbs to the drugs, leaving Bacon alone.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Dyer's drinking worsening progressively, with his behavior becoming increasingly unstable before the fatal overdose.

• overdose
• death
• paris
• addiction
• alcohol
• delirium tremens

After Dyer stages a suicide attempt by threatening to jump from a hotel rooftop during their New York trip, Bacon talks him down and tries to provide stability. The $20,000 check serves as both a financial gift and an attempt to keep Dyer anchored to their relationship, with Bacon also suggesting they go to Paris together as a fresh start.

• suicide attempt
• rooftop
• $20000
• gift
• new york
• desperate act

Bacon becomes deeply entangled in Dyer's life, pulled him into his artistic world, and genuinely cares for him despite the chaos. Their relationship is marked by intense dependency and codependency, Bacon enables Dyer financially and emotionally while Dyer provides something Bacon craves. Even as Dyer's addiction worsens and his behavior becomes more erratic, Bacon struggles to let go, though the strain ultimately proves fatal.

Foreshadowing: Bacon chooses to involve Dyer in his inner circle from the very first night, showing his willingness to embrace the relationship despite its risks.

• codependency
• addiction
• enabling
• relationship
• francis bacon
• george dyer

Bacon views their arrangement as a free-agent setup, meeting other companions occasionally in clubs and during gambling rounds. While Bacon sees this as normal within his lifestyle, Dyer struggles to accept it. His jealousy intensifies as he witnesses Bacon's infidelities, ultimately driving him to the desperate act of framing Bacon with drugs, a reaction rooted in his emotional pain and insecurity about his place in Bacon's life.

• open relationship
• jealousy
• infidelity
• flings
• tension
• francis bacon
• george dyer

After the New York trip and the rooftop incident, Bacon suggests they should go to Paris together, a move that represents both a professional opportunity and an attempt to escape the deteriorating situation in London. In Paris, Bacon continues his artistic work while fame grows, but the change of scenery fails to resolve the fundamental issues in their relationship, as Dyer's drinking only intensifies.

• paris
• move
• new york
• art world
• relocation
• francis bacon
• george dyer

Dyer's suicide attempt stems from desperation over the relationship's instability and his own personal demons. During the New York trip, a city where the couple's dynamics are already strained, Dyer reaches a breaking point and threatens to jump from a hotel rooftop. This act represents his cry for help, driven by jealousy, insecurity, and the overwhelming pressures of their tumultuous relationship.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Dyer's growing anger and grievances about Bacon, with his mental state deteriorating as the relationship becomes more unstable.

• suicide
• rooftop
• new york
• desperation
• mental health
• crisis

Bacon is arrested as a direct consequence of Dyer's jealousy-driven scheme. After stashing drugs in Bacon's apartment and calling the police to report them, Dyer orchestrates Bacon's arrest. However, Bacon is treated as a public formality rather than a serious criminal, he's held briefly and released. The arrest highlights the toxicity that has seeped into their relationship and marks a turning point in their dynamic.

Foreshadowing: Dyer's jealousy builds after learning about Bacon's flings, setting the stage for this vindictive act.

• arrest
• police
• drugs
• frame
• betrayal
• consequences

Dyer's drinking progressively worsens throughout the film, creating constant tension between the couple. His alcohol abuse leads to erratic behavior, clashes with police, and eventually escalates to delirium tremens, a severe withdrawal condition. As Dyer's addiction deepens, he becomes increasingly unstable, voicing complaints about Bacon to friends and engaging in self-destructive behavior that ultimately proves fatal.

• alcoholism
• drinking
• addiction
• delirium tremens
• deterioration
• george dyer