Sir Jacob Epstein [1880-1959] - we specialise in Epstein's work and buy and sell his sculpture, paintings and drawings - a 112 page fully illustrated catalogue is available [£10 including UK post].
Jacob Epstein sculpture and drawings bought and sold - he was born in the USA, later moving to London and became the best known UK sculptor during the first half of the 20th century. Jacob Epstein produced many well known public sculptures during his lifetime and is represented in all the major public collections throughout the world, including MOMA [NY] and Tate Gallery [London]. There are many books on the work of Jacob Epstein including a complete catalogue of his sculpture published in 1987.
He produced many innovative sculptures during the early part of his career, but is perhaps best known for his bronze heads and figures where he was able to get under the skin of his models and depict their character and soul in a way no other sculptor has managed to achieve. They are not 'just portraits' as many people seem to see them, he captures real life within the sculptures [Lucien Freud uses models for all his paintings, but we don't refer to these as 'just portraits' they are seen as great paintings. Jacob Epstein sculptures should be viewed in the same way - they are actually far greater than Freud's - Rodin could only dream of putting life into his own heads]. Many famous sculptors, including Henry Moore and Giacometti, regarded Epstein as a competent carver, but a great modeller [bronze heads and busts] - he was actually far better than competent as a carver [Rodin could not carve at all, his assistants did it all], but there is no doubt that his modelled bronzes are his greatest achievement .
Why Epstein is out of fashion, is beyond us.
We have a large amount of sculpture and drawings - only a few are on the website.
We want to buy sculpture and drawings by Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein - sculpture - Sir Jacob Epstein - bronzes - Jacob Epstein
Sculptor - Jacob Epstein - sculpture - SirJacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein sculpture
Sir JACOB EPSTEIN [1880-1959]
'Sunita' [2nd portrait], 1925
bronze, ed.6, signed, 57 cm high
Provenance: Private collection, UK
Literature: The Sculpture of Epstein, E. Silber, Phaidon, 1986, p.158, no.160.
Sunita was Epstein's favourite model and he produced several great portraits of her - he used her [and her son] as models for 'Madonna and Child' - this is probably the best portrait of Sunita.
Sir JACOB EPSTEIN - 'Kathleen' [1st portrait]
1921, bronze, 47 cm high
Literature: The Sculpture of Epstein, E. Silber, Phaidon, 1986, p.149, pl. 123;
also illustrated in other books on Epstein: Wellington, pl.20; Haskell p.178; Black pl.59e; Epstein autobiography; Buckle pl. 171; Schinman p.74.
Kathleen later became Epstein's 2nd wife and this is probably his best portrait of her
Sir JACOB EPSTEIN [1880-1959]
Muirhead Bone, 1916
Important WORLD WAR 1 sculpture
bronze, ed.6, 26 cm high
Provenance: Leicester Galleries, 1917; Private collection, USA [M . Paez-Vilano]; Sothebys New York, 3 June 1970, lot 90; Private collection, USA; Sothebys, New York, 13 February 2008, lot 129; Private collection, UK.
Literature: The Sculpture of Epstein, E. Silber, Phaidon, 1986, p.140, pl.75 [no.4];
Muirhead Bone was a major artist in the early 20th Century and became the first official war artist in 1916 during World War 1. Epstein produced this portrait of his friend shortly afterwards and it is one of Epstein's best early male portraits.
Muirhead Bone was very influential in the establishment of the Imperial War Museum in 1917 and became a trustee [he was also a trustee of the National Gallery and Tate Gallery].
Only 4 casts of this head are known to exist, all cast circa 1916-17 - two of the other 3 casts are in museum collections - even the Imperial War Museum does not have a cast !
