JACOB EPSTEIN
TRIP TO AMERICA, INDIAN MADONNA AND CHILD. London, Oct. 1. Jacob Epstein, the famous sculptor, has sailed on the Berengaria to exhibit his works to the Americans. His new life-size group.' to be then shown for the first time, will be ‘‘Madonna and Child.” For two years Epstein has been modelling this large work, with an Indian mother and her child posing for the two figures. His work will be exhibited at the Fcrargill Gal leries, New York, during four weeks in November.
Tho model for Epstein’s Madonna was Sunita. the beautiful high-caste Hindu, who came from Bombay, three years ago. Sunita lias since divided her time, sitting for the sculptor and, as Princess Sinita, doing thought-read ing and clairvoyance. Her own son, now six years old, a -fine bright lad sat for the child. The clay original was cast in bronze in August, and shipped to New York five weeks ago. It lias been secretly shown to a few of Epstein’s friends, who consider it a work of supreme art. ‘‘l have no definite plans,” Epstein told a representative of "Observer.” “I am going to America with a perfectly open mind. I have been told it is a friendlier country to art and artists than England. We shall see! “No I’ve no complaints against England! Except that I do not understand its long neglect of my work. It seems that Englishmen generally are indifferent to art—and especially sculpture if their taste is to be judged by the monuments they tolerate. The Albert Memorial? Well, one could overlook that on the distinct promise that it would never occur again. But deliberately to repeat tho crime in the Victoria Memorial and carry it on to the Nurse Cavell monument! I shudder for the next! “MY BEST WORK SO FAR.” Questioned with regard to his latest work “The Madonna and Child,” Mr Epstein continued: — “ ‘The Madonna and Child’ is my largest, and 1 thiuk, best work so far. It is the greatest work 1 have ever undertaken, and is above life-size. Tho Madonna is shown seated with tho boy Christ standing between her knees. Her sitting posture has been emphasised in such a way as to suggest permanence. The expression of the face is profound aud sad. The attitude of her arms is to protect ner child against the world. Christ is shown looking upwards, His arms raised in an attitude of invocation, calling the world to Him. “I hope the piece will bo eventu ally placed in one of the largest cathedrals, either in England or America. I should not like it to finish up in an art gallery, which is the last place any art should go to. The invironment of such places is totally unsuitable.
EMPTY CATHEDRALS. “But tho times seem to have passed when the Church commissioned artists to beautify the interiors of cathedrals. The great cathedrals of England have stood like empty, cold barns since the Reformation —except Westminster Abbey, crammed to bursting with some of the worst sculpture ever conceived. But if enough money is still available to build new cathedrals, surely some could be set aside for furnishing the interiors? Christianity is the source of the highest and noblest inspiration in art. Every encouragement should be afforded to allow the expression full play. “I, personally, have many ideas I should like to execute in this dircctoin. One, especially, the subject running into a background of mosaic. I live in hope of one day being commissioned to do it —since an arartist can hardly execute and present his own work gratiuitously. “England has never had a great sculptor at any time in her history, and I don’t think he will be kept very busy even when he does arrive. I have lived here for 25 years, and I like it. I don’t know how long I shall remain in America, because I have not the slightest idea what I am going to find there. After my show in New York I have been invited to visit Buffalo, where, I learn, there is a very live interest in art. But I am not going to America to work —at least, I do not anticipate such a thing. I am going, as it were, with the goods! ”
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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 November 1927, Page 9
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711JACOB EPSTEIN Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 November 1927, Page 9
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