Bronze
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<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/frank-dobson-1014" aria-label="More by Frank Dobson" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Frank Dobson</a>
Margaret Rawlings
Presented anonymously 1937
<p>This bust of the actress Margaret Rawlings is one of several commissioned portraits made by Dobson throughout his career. In the 1920s Dobson was regarded as an avant-garde sculptor. He was a leading member of the London Group, and his works, which were influenced by Cubism and primitive art, were praised by Roger Fry and the Bloomsbury circle of intellectuals. In the 1930s, however, his reputation as an innovatory artist declined as his work became increasingly neo-classical, and close in spirit to the overtly more traditional French sculptors, Maillol and Despiau. This portrait study has an expressive and informal quality reminiscent of the 'Mediterranean' mood of many of Maillol's nudes.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
sculpture bronze
Margaret Rawlings
object: 571 × 559 × 546 mm
Presented anonymously 1937
<p>This bust of the actress Margaret Rawlings is one  of several commissioned <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>portraits</span></a> made by Dobson  throughout his career. In the 1920s Dobson was  regarded as an <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/a/avant-garde" title="Glossary definition for 'Avant-garde'"><span>avant-garde</span></a> <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>sculptor</span></a>. He was a  leading member of 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/l/london-group" title="Glossary definition for 'London Group'"><span>London Group</span></a>, and his works,  which were influenced by <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/cubism" title="Glossary definition for 'Cubism'"><span>Cubism</span></a> and <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/primitivism" title="Glossary definition for 'Primitivism'"><span>primitive</span></a> art,  were praised by Roger Fry and 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/b/bloomsbury" title="Glossary definition for 'Bloomsbury '"><span>Bloomsbury</span></a>  circle of intellectuals. In the 1930s, however,  his reputation as an innovatory artist declined as  his work became increasingly <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/n/neoclassicism" title="Glossary definition for 'Neoclassicism'"><span>neo-classical</span></a>, and  close in spirit to the overtly more traditional  French sculptors, Maillol and Despiau. This  portrait study has an expressive and informal  quality reminiscent of the 'Mediterranean' mood of  many of Maillol's nudes.</p>
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2004-08-18T00:00:00
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<p><b>N05028</b> MARGARET RAWLINGS 1937
<br/> 
<br/>Inscr. ‘Dobson’ on back.
<br/>Bronze, 22 1/2×22×21 1/2 (57×56×55).
<br/>Presented by an anonymous donor 1937.
<br/><i>Exh:</i>
R.A., 1936 (1575).
<br/><i>Repr:</i> <i>Apollo</i>, XXIV, 1936, p.48; Earp, 1945, pl.27.</p>
<p>Other casts of 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> are at Manchester and Leeds. Margaret Rawlings (Lady Barlow), b. 1906, actress, made her first stage appearance in Charles Macdona's Shaw Repertory Company in 1927. She married Sir Robert Barlow in 1942.</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
2004-10-06T00:00:00
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