Sir Jacob Epstein (1880-1959)

Second Portrait of George Bernard Shaw (head)

Details

Sir Jacob Epstein (1880-1959)
Second Portrait of George Bernard Shaw (head)
signed 'Epstein' (on the reverse)
bronze with a dark green patina
17¾ in. (45 cm.) high
Conceived in 1934

Provenance

Miss Mary, D'Avigdor, New York, by whom purchased from the artist in November 1950.

Literature

J. Epstein, Let there be Sculpture, London, 1940, pp.99-101 (another cast illustrated).
J. Epstein, An Autobiography, London, 1955, pp.81-83 (another cast illustrated).
R. Buckle, Jacob Epstein Sculptor, London, 1963, pp.210-11, pl.323 (another cast illustrated).
E. Silber, The Sculpture of Epstein, Oxford, 1986, no.253, p.178 (another cast illustrated).

Lot Essay

Of the portrait of Shaw, Epstein wrote 'I think that there are in it elements so subtle that they would be difficult to explain ... He walked to my studio every day, and was punctual and conscientious. He wisecracked of course. In matters of art he aired definite opinions, mostly wrong. Throughout my life in England, Shaw was an outspoken champion of my work ... He was generous to young talent'. Shaw wrote him a long letter 'Your first sketch is a brilliant thumbnail version of me as I am. Then you went on to perform marvels of modelling on lips and cheeks and mouth with all the mastery that makes your busts precious' (R. Buckle, loc. cit.).

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