Epstein, Sir Jacob

Epstein, Sir Jacob
(1880–1959)
   English sculptor. Jacob Epstein was one of the greatest sculptors of the twentieth century, but public recognition was slow in coming. During what he later called his ‘Thirty Years’ War with England’, some of Epstein’s work became a butt for popular ridicule. The son of Polish Jewish refugees, he grew up on the Lower East Side of New York, and studied in Paris. Epstein acknowledged the enormous influence upon his work of the pagan sculptors of Africa and pre-Colombian South America, as well as that of ancient Greece and Renaissance Italy. He settled in London in 1905 and was commissioned to do a series of figures - The Birth of Energy - for the British Medical Association building. The figures, nude and graphic, created an uproar. For years after, his work was similarly received: his statue for Oscar Wilde’s tomb in Paris spent some time hidden from view under a tarpaulin; Rima, in London, was regularly tarred and feathered; and his monolith Adam was displayed in a side-show in a fair.
   Over the years his powerful style matured, and expressed his interest in humanity and the essential forces of life and growth. The distortions of form in such pieces as Genesis, Adam, Lazarus and Ecce Homo continued to arouse hostile criticism. But a change in fashion in favour of abstractionists like Henry Moore, caused him to be regarded as a traditionalist. Epstein was much influenced by his early readings of the Bible and his drawings illustrating the Bible were magnificent. His Madonna in Cavendish Square, London, was one of his greatest achievements, and his portrait busts of Nehru, Weizmann, Einstein and others are regarded as masterpieces. He was knighted in 1954. Lady Epstein donated 105 of his early clays to the Israel Museum.

Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament. . 2012.

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  • EPSTEIN, SIR JACOB — (1880–1959), English sculptor, considered one of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century, and probably the most famous Anglo Jewish artist of his time. He was born on New York s Lower East Side into a family of Polish Jewish immigrants and… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Epstein, Sir Jacob — (10 nov. 1880, Nueva York, N.Y., EE.UU.–21 ago. 1959, Londres, Inglaterra). Escultor británico nacido en EE.UU. Estudió en París y se estableció en Inglaterra en 1905. Sus 18 figuras desnudas, conocidas como Estatuas Strand (1907–08), hicieron… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Epstein,Sir Jacob — Ep·stein (ĕpʹstīn ), Sir Jacob. 1880 1959. American born British sculptor who is noted for his busts and his massive, controversial works, such as the marble Venus (1917). * * * …   Universalium

  • Epstein, Sir Jacob — born Nov. 10, 1880, New York, N.Y., U.S. died Aug. 21, 1959, London, Eng. U.S. born British sculptor. He studied in Paris and settled in England in 1905. His 18 nude figures known as the Strand Statues (1907–08) provoked charges of indecency; his …   Universalium

  • Sir Jacob Epstein — noun British sculptor (born in the United States) noted for busts and large controversial works (1880 1959) • Syn: ↑Epstein, ↑Jacob Epstein • Instance Hypernyms: ↑sculptor, ↑sculpturer, ↑carver, ↑statue maker …   Useful english dictionary

  • EPSTEIN (J.) — EPSTEIN sir JACOB (1880 1959) C’est peu avant 1900 que Jacob Epstein, fils d’émigrés russo polonais, décide de se consacrer à la sculpture. Il entre dans une fonderie de New York et suit, le soir, des cours de modelage. Venu à Paris en 1902, il… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Jacob — o Ya akov, en hebreo יַעֲקֹב sostenido por el talón o en árabe يعقوب Yaʿqūb, conocido despues como Israel hebreo יִשְׂרָאֵל Principe de Dios , árabe اسرائيل Isrāʾīl) es uno de los patriarcas de la Biblia. Su historia es contada en el libro de… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Jacob Epstein — noun British sculptor (born in the United States) noted for busts and large controversial works (1880 1959) • Syn: ↑Epstein, ↑Sir Jacob Epstein • Instance Hypernyms: ↑sculptor, ↑sculpturer, ↑carver, ↑statue maker * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • Jacob — /jay keuhb/ for 1, 3; Fr. /zhann kawb / for 2, n. 1. the second son of Isaac, the twin brother of Esau, and father of the 12 patriarchs. Gen. 25:24 34. 2. François /frddahonn swann /, born 1920, French geneticist: Nobel prize for medicine 1965. 3 …   Universalium

  • Epstein — noun British sculptor (born in the United States) noted for busts and large controversial works (1880 1959) • Syn: ↑Jacob Epstein, ↑Sir Jacob Epstein • Instance Hypernyms: ↑sculptor, ↑sculpturer, ↑carver, ↑statue maker …   Useful english dictionary

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