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User / MikeJDavis / Genius reflecting Genius
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[or "The bust the wife refused"]

This is a portrait of one of the finest writers of English - the Irishman George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), by one of the finest C20th sculptors, Jacob Epstein (1880-1959) in 1934.

I don't know how many casts were made, but this one is in Bury Art Gallery presented by Arthur Millward in 1973.
One cast, however, is on display in the National Portrait Gallery (London), whose website includes the following quote:

"Shaw helped Epstein to become established in London but did not sit for a portrait until 1934. Shaw stripped to the waist, rather to Epstein's dismay: while the original bust included Shaw's torso, Epstein preferred this reduced version. He felt the portrait captured 'elements so subtle that it would be difficult to explain'. Shaw, however, turned down Epstein's offer of a copy of the bust, later revealing that his wife refused to have it in the house."
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Dates
  • Taken: Jan 29, 2020
  • Uploaded: Jan 30, 2020
  • Updated: Aug 29, 2021