Bronze
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-jacob-epstein-1061" aria-label="More by Sir Jacob Epstein" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir Jacob Epstein</a>
Somerset Maugham
Presented by William Somerset Maugham 1952
<p>From the 1920s Epstein modelled highly successful portrait busts. In 1951 the novelist and playwright Somerset Maugham sat to him. Maugham later offered the portrait to the Tate, commenting, 'I have a great dislike of living in the same house with effigies of myself'. It is interesting to compare this sculpture with Graham Sutherland's 1949 portrait of Maugham. Both works convey a sense of Maugham's refined dignity. Comparisons can also be made with Giacometti's portrait of Jean Genet, which hangs close by. The lines and creases, for example, used by Epstein to describe the sitter's distinguished brow, are not unlike those used by Giacometti to suggest the entire form of Genet's head.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
sculpture bronze
29 October 2018 – 4 February 2019
2019-02-04
29 October 2018 – 4 February 2019
2019-02-04
2018-10-29
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2018-10-29
Figure/Totem/Beast
Collection based display
Somerset Maugham
displayed: 477 × 225 × 250 mm
Presented by William Somerset Maugham 1952
<p>From the 1920s Epstein modelled highly successful <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portrait</span></a> busts. In 1951 the novelist and playwright Somerset Maugham sat to him. Maugham later offered the portrait to the Tate, commenting, 'I have a great dislike of living in the same house with effigies of myself'. It is interesting to compare this <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/s/sculpture" title="Glossary definition for 'Sculpture'"><span>sculpture</span></a> with Graham Sutherland's 1949 portrait of Maugham. Both works convey a sense of Maugham's refined dignity. Comparisons can also be made with Giacometti's portrait of Jean Genet, which hangs close by. The lines and creases, for example, used by Epstein to describe the sitter's distinguished brow, are not unlike those used by Giacometti to suggest the entire <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/f/form" title="Glossary definition for 'Form'"><span>form</span></a> of Genet's head.</p>
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2004-08-18T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
<p><b>N06132</b> SOMERSET MAUGHAM 1951
<br/> 
<br/>Not inscribed.
<br/>Bronze, 15 1/2×9×9 (39×23×23).
<br/>Presented by Somerset Maugham 1952.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> Arts Council, Tate Gallery, September–November 1952 (59), lent by the sculptor.
<br/><i>Lit:</i> Epstein, 1955, p.235; Buckle, 1963, pp.354, 429, plaster repr. pl.549.</p>
<p>Somerset Maugham (b. 1874), novelist and playwright, author of <i>Liza of Lambeth, The Moon and Sixpence, The Razor's Edge</i>, etc., sat for this <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portrait</span></a> in 1951. When offering the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/m/metal" title="Glossary definition for 'Metal'"><span>bronze</span></a> to the Tate Gallery he wrote (3 December 1952): ‘I have a great dislike of living in the same house with effigies of myself.’ For other portraits of him see Kelly, <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/kelly-the-jester-w-somerset-maugham-n04703" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N04703</span></a>, and Sutherland, <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/sutherland-somerset-maugham-n06034" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N06034</span></a>.</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, I</p>
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Catalogue entry
2004-10-08T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY