The boozer who bottled bohemia: John Deakin's Soho photography

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His circle of friends featured Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, and he took photos of Soho's artists, writers, drifters and newsagents as we wandered from one pub to the next in the 50s and 60s. Here's a selection of his best portraits

• Under the Influence, John Deakin, Photography and the Lure of Soho is at the Photographers' Gallery in London from 11 April to 13 July, along with a book published by Art / Books

Mon 7 Apr 2014 03.00 EDT Last modified on Wed 19 Oct 2022 10.33 EDT

• Francis Bacon, 1952 (Vogue). Photograph: John Deakin/Vogue. Copyright 2014 Conde Nast Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• JP Donleavy, Soho, 1950s. Photograph: copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Jeffrey Bernard, Soho, 1950s. Photograph: John Deakin. Courtesy of private collection, London Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Tony Abbro, newsagent, Old Compton Street, December 1960. Photograph: John Deakin. Copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Portrait of an unknown girl in a cafe, 1960s. Photograph: John Deakin. Copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Elizabeth Smart, 1952. Photograph: John Deakin. Copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Lucian Freud, c1961. Photograph: John Deakin. Copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Contact sheet of self-portraits, 1952. (Vogue). Copyright John Deakin/Vogue Copyright 2014 The Conde Nast Publications Ltd Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• John Deakin in characteristic pose, 1960s. Daniel Farson. Courtesy Private Collection London Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Jackie Ellis, actress, 1960s. Photograph: John Deakin. Copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Timothy Behrens, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, Frank Auerbach and Michael Andrews at Wheeler's, Old Compton Street, 1963. Photograph: copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

• Unknown woman, 1930s. Photograph: copyright 2014 John Deakin Archive Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

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