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

Barry Joule says he is cancelling plans to donate a collection to the UK gallery because it failed to exhibit works in earlier gift

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.