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Jacob Epstein (1880-1959), Sculptor

Sir Jacob Epstein

Sitter associated with 66 portraits
Artist of 14 portraits
The leading modernist sculptor of his day, Epstein was born in New York to Polish-Jewish parents and studied in Paris before moving to London in 1905. He quickly gained a reputation as a brilliant sculptor, creating monuments, portraits and controversial depictions of nudity. His bold work courted controversy and may have cost him an appointment as war artist and a professorship at the Royal College of Art. In spite of criticism, he regularly and successfully exhibited life-size bronzes and portraits at the Leicester Galleries. He received public recognition late in life, being knighted in 1954, and completed large commissions and numerous portraits in his last decade.

List Thumbnail

4119

Jacob Epstein

by Augustus Edwin John
chalk, circa 1900
NPG 4119

4126

Jacob Epstein

by Sir Jacob Epstein
bronze head, 1912
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 4126

4397

Jacob Epstein

by Powys Evans
pen and ink, published 1925
NPG 4397

P15

Hewlett Johnson; Jacob Epstein

by Felix H. Man (Hans Baumann)
bromide print, 1943
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG P15

P490(28)

Jacob Epstein

by Yousuf Karsh
bromide print, 1955
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG P490(28)

x21741

Jacob Epstein

by Barratt's Photo Press Ltd.
bromide print, 1900s
NPG x21741

x132916

Jacob Epstein

by Emil Otto ('E.O.') Hoppé
modern print on sepia-toned Veribrom paper, 1911
NPG x132916

Ax7820

Jacob Epstein

by Alvin Langdon Coburn, published by Duckworth & Co
collotype, 24 January 1914
NPG Ax7820

x16194

Michael Sayers; Jacob Epstein

by Paul Ferdinand Anton Laib
bromide print
NPG x16194

x6395

Jacob Epstein

by George Charles Beresford
sepia-toned platinotype, 1 November 1916
NPG x6395

x36037

Jacob Epstein

by Central Press
bromide print, 1917
NPG x36037

x27889

Jacob Epstein

by George Charles Beresford
bromide print, 11 July 1921
NPG x27889

x6396

Jacob Epstein

by George Charles Beresford
vintage print, 1924
NPG x6396

x88293

Jacob Epstein with 'Primeval Gods'

by James Jarché, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 25 April 1933
NPG x88293

x2381

Jacob Epstein

by Howard Coster
chlorobromide print, 1940
NPG x2381

x30416

Jacob Epstein with a bust of Kathleen, Lady Epstein

by Unknown photographer
bromide print, circa 1948
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x30416

x21742

Jacob Epstein

by Geoffrey Ireland
bromide print, 1950s
NPG x21742

x32725

Jacob Epstein

by Geoffrey Ireland
semi-matte bromide print on card mount, 1950s
NPG x32725

x8495

Jacob Epstein

by Geoffrey Ireland
vintage gelatin silver print, 1950s
NPG x8495

x136748

Sir Jacob Epstein with plaster of 'Social Consciousness'

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1951-1953
NPG x136748

x136752

William Somerset Maugham; Jacob Epstein

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1951
NPG x136752

x136753

William Somerset Maugham; Jacob Epstein

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1951
NPG x136753

x136754

William Somerset Maugham; Jacob Epstein

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1951
NPG x136754

x136755

William Somerset Maugham; Jacob Epstein

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1951
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x136755

x136760

Jacob Epstein sculpting Elizabeth Keen

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1951
NPG x136760

x136761

Jacob Epstein sculpting Elizabeth Keen

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1951
NPG x136761

x137297

Sir Jacob Epstein

by Michael Peto
bromide fibre print, 1951
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x137297

x137298

Sir Jacob Epstein

by Michael Peto
bromide fibre print, 1951
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x137298

x136479

Sir Jacob Epstein; Judith Lade

by Unknown photographer, for Keystone Press Agency Ltd
vintage press print, 4 March 1952
NPG x136479

x36036

Jacob Epstein

by P.A. Reuter Photos Ltd
bromide print, 1953
NPG x36036

x133283

Jacob Epstein

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1953
NPG x133283

x135200

Sir Jacob Epstein

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1953
NPG x135200

x136751

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell; Jacob Epstein

by Ida Kar
2 1/4 inch square film negative, 1953
On display in Room 33 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x136751

Family Tree
Freud
Related People
Esther Epstein (daughter)
Kathleen Esther (née Garman), Lady Epstein (wife)
Links
Hull University Art Collection, East Yorkshire
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, North Yorkshire
New Art Gallery, Walsall, West Midlands
Category
Art
Groups
Artists and artisans
Camden Town Group
Euston Road School
Jewish sitters and artists
Vorticists
Places
United States
Yorkshire