Jacob Epstein with his 'Christ in Majesty'
1 portrait of Jacob Epstein
© Geoffrey Ireland / National Portrait Gallery, London
Jacob Epstein with his 'Christ in Majesty'
by Geoffrey Ireland
semi-matte bromide print, circa 1955
11 7/8 in. x 9 5/8 in. (301 mm x 245 mm) image size
Purchased, 1980
Photographs Collection
NPG x29399
Sitterback to top
- Sir Jacob Epstein (1880-1959), Sculptor. Sitter in 71 portraits, Artist or producer of 15 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Geoffrey Ireland (1923-2016), Photographer and writer. Artist or producer of 29 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Ireland took this photograph at the Royal College of Art, where Epstein worked on commissions that were too large for his studio, and published it in Epstein: A Camera Study of the Artist at Work. Laurie Lee's introduction to this book praised Ireland for capturing 'the human figure of the artist himself, rapt and unposed, moving among his creations'. Epstein is shown here next to Christ in Majesty, a commission from Llandaff Cathedral. Epstein waived part of his fee for this sculpture so that it should be cast in aluminium instead of being made from gilded plaster.
Placesback to top
- Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: England, London (Royal College of Art, Kensington and Chelsea, London)
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- Jacob Epstein: Portrait Sculptor (30 March 2013 - 24 November 2013)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1955back to top
Current affairs
Robert Anthony Eden becomes prime minister. In May 1955 Winston Churchill resigned due to ill health. His successor proved to be a similarly popular leader, winning an increased majority at the general election that year. Eden's popularity was due to a combination of his long wartime service, good looks and charm.Art and science
Mary Quant introduces the 'Chelsea Look' with her Bazaar boutique. In the 1960s Quant was a major contributor to 'swinging London' introducing some of the seminal items of 1960s fashion: the miniskirt, hot pants, paint-box make-up and plastic raincoats.International
West Germany joins NATO, prompting the East European Communist counties to respond by forming the Warsaw Pact. The signatories of the Warsaw Pact pledged to defend each other if any member was attacked. This development was a major event in the Cold War as it firmly established the East and West as opposing military powers.Comments back to top
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