Lot 31: SIR JACOB EPSTEIN

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Description: SIR JACOB EPSTEIN 1880-1959 ALBERT EINSTEIN signed bronze with a green patina height (including base): 53.5cm.; 21in.

Notes: Conceived in 1933.

According to the Epstein Centenary exhibition catalogue, Epstein was asked to execute a portrait bust of Professor Einstein after the latter's arrival in England in 1933. Epstein states in his Autobiography: 'His glance contained a mixture of the humane, humorous and the profound. This was a combination that delighted me. He resembled an ageing Rembrandt.'

Provenance: Property of Morton Oliphant, Esq.
Sale, Sotheby's, London, 26υth November 1969, lot 329, whence acquired by the family of the present owner

Exhibited: London, Arthur Tooth and Sons, 1933;
Leeds, Leeds City Art Gallery, Exhibition of Sculpture and Paintings by Jacob Epstein and Matthew Smith, 12th July - 14th September 1942, cat. no.48 (another cast);
Birmingham, Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, Rebel Angel Sculpture and Watercolours by Sir Jacob Epstein 1880-1959, 16th October - 30th November 1980, cat. no.35, illustrated in the catalogue p.24 (another cast);
London, Ben Uri Art Gallery, Epstein Centenary 1980, 18th November -18th December 1980, cat. no.22 (another cast);
Leeds, Leeds City Art Galleries, Jacob Epstein Sculpture and Drawings, 16th April - 21st June 1987, cat. no.150, illustrated in the catalogue p.244 (another cast), and travelling to London, Whitechapel Art Gallery.

Literature: Jacob Epstein, Let There Be Sculpture An Autobiography, Michael Joseph Ltd, London, 1940, pp.94-6, illustrated opposite p.86 (another cast);
R. Black, The Art of Jacob Epstein, World Publishing Company, New York and Cleveland, 1942, illustrated pl.62, cat. no.91 (another cast);
Jacob Epstein, Epstein: An Autobiography, Hulton, London, 1955, illustrated opposite p.71, pp.77-8 (another cast);
Richard Buckle, Jacob Epstein Sculptor, Faber and Faber Limited, London, 1963, illustrated pl.320, p.206 (another cast);
Evelyn Silber, The Sculpture of Epstein with a Complete Catalogue, Phaidon Press Limited, Oxford, 1986, cat. no.234, illustrated p.174 (another cast).