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Benjamin Britten

3 of 120 portraits of Benjamin Britten

Photograph © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Benjamin Britten

by Georg Ehrlich
plaster cast for bronze head, 1951
15 in. (381 mm) high
Given by Trustee of the estate of Bettina Ehrlich, 1986
Primary Collection
NPG 5910

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Georg Ehrlich (1897-1966), Artist. Artist or producer of 2 portraits.

This portraitback to top

In November 1951 Ehrlich undertook a portrait bust of Benjamin Britten. It stands outside the tradition of British post-war sculpture, which is hardly suprising given that the artist was a product of an intensely academic training just after the First World War; but it is none the worse for that. Indeed, it is a convincing, rather intense image of a great composer.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 5909: Peter Pears (companion portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 206
  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 206 Read entry

    George Ehrlich was born in Vienna in 1897, trained as a painter at the Kunstgewerbeschule, turned to sculpture in the late 1920s, and emigrated to London just before the Second World War. In England much of his work was devoted to animals and small children, but in November 1951 he undertook a portrait bust of Benjamin Britten. It stands outside the tradition of British post-war sculpture, which is hardly surprising given that the artist was a product of an intensely academic training just after the First World War; but it is none the worse for that. Indeed, it is a convincing, rather intense image of a great composer.

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 77

Events of 1951back to top

Current affairs

The Conservative Party wins the general election and Winston Churchill returns for a second term as prime minister.

Art and science

On the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the Festival of Britain is held as a nationwide celebration of British culture, and as an impetus for post-war regeneration. As well as various art, science and industrial exhibitions and events, a major regeneration project was initiated for the South Bank area of London under the directorship of the architect, Hugh Casson.

International

Libya declares its sovereignty from Italian rule, becoming the first independent state to be created by the UN.
At the Treaty of San Francisco, 48 nations sign a peace treaty with Japan, officially ending the Pacific War - the last battleground of the Second World War.

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