Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 1 : Presscuttings, 1959-1962

How Brisbane got its Director, Queensland National Art Gallery THE arrival in Brisbane MS week of "The Visitation," the most mportont bronze in Australia by Sir Jacob Epritin, further enhances the small but magnificer collection of sculpture in the Queensland Natio'al Art Gallery. The new acquisition be- comes the fourth Epstein bronze in the collection- - thanks to the Interest that Sir Jacob and Lady Epstein have taken in the gallery through their friendship. Sir Jacob Epstein is one of the great, if not the greatest, figures In 20th Century sculpture. When I went to London In 1949 friend Introduced me to the Epsteins. Their house in a quiet street in Kensington, just off Hyde Park, is immediately opposite the London home of Sir Winston Churchill. Old friend My friend was an old friend of the family and Immedi- ately I was made to feel on the same footing. This began a friendship in which kindness has followed kindness, and it has been pos- sible for us to buy some of Epstein's bronzes because of his generosity. After my last visit to Lon- don, Lady Epstein wrote to me in Italy saying that she and Sir Jacob would like to present a painting by her soil, Theodore Garman, to the Queensland National Art Gal- ley if it would be acceptable. The picture, "St John with Flowers" given to Queens- land, is a large paintin and A MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF SCULPTURE NOW one of his most important works. When in London In 1949, I had seen n bust of Epsteln's daughter, Esther, which I had particularly admired, and on my appointment to Queens- land recommended that it should be purchased. This the Trustees agreed to do and the first Epstein bronze to come to Queens- land was bought from the Maria T. Treweeke BIHtlYst 119531 and is un increas- ingly Important memorial to her. The head of Bernard Shaw t1934I was purchased in 1964, and later in 1956 the Godfrey Rivers Trust Fund presented a. very lovely early portrait head of Nan 09110. These three bronzes are all fine examples of different periods of Epstein's work, but like every other gallery in Australia we did not possess a major work and it almost seemed impossible that we would be able to do so. This matter I had spoken of and later wrote about to Lady Epstein and Sir Jacob had made a most. generous offer, but it was not until we e clued the Estelle M. 0. Neil - F9 JAN Ifl" Sell Bequest last year that we were able to make the pur- chase of the lite size figure known as -The Visitation." Of this Epstein writes In his autobiography. "In 1926 in Epping [ores( I modelled a life sue figure which 1 in- tended for a group to be called "I'he Visitation.' ran recall with pleasure how this figure looked In my little hut which 1 used as a studio. 'This figure stands with folded hands. and expresses a humility so profound as to shame the beholder who comes to my sculpture expecting rhetoric or splendour of ges- ture. This work alone refutes all the charges of blatancy and self -advertisement levell- ed at me.' Although there are no great deviations from nature it is no less imaginative than Epstein's other major works, Its imaginative qualities are expressed in a different way. Frailty All the frailty and vulner- ability of woman is revealed in the bronze. SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE THIS REPRESENTA- TION OF A PREGNANT WOMAN, BUT IS NOT THIS PART OF THE CYCLE OF LIFE? Any but the most prejudiced will see in this most im- portant of Epstein's bronzes an unwavering integrity and quickly springing sympathy. which leave us more than a little touched with his pity and his rare understanding. We are most fortunate to have this very important 1pture in Queensland. Brisbane, Qld. CITY storeis displaying iu its window the Art Gal- lery's latest. buy. The Visitation, by,114:tr Jacob Epstein. We listened -,94' .e Queenn Street art critics cutting loose o bronze statue. We quote: "JTHings--AT I dunnO how they call beautiful." "Funny the way those Sculptors always poke holes In the eyes." "Why d'you reckon she's all bent up?" But the dowager type with a enedbuiltinthem glintall in as hershey adiadjustedsted es quiet- er bi-focals. "Very clever head." she said: CITY store is displaying in Its window the Art Gal- lery's latest buy. The Visitation, by Sir Jacob Epstein. We listened to the Queen Street art critics cutting loose on the bronze statue. We quote: "Jings- I how they call THAT beautiful." "Funny the way those sculptors always poke holes in the eyes." "Why d'you reckon she's all bent up?" But the dowager type with a built-in glint in her eyes quiet- ened them all as she adjusted her hi -locals. "Very clever head." she s Id 'THE COURIER -MAIL THURI New Epstein THE VISIT.% THEN. a srulplure itt bronze by Sir Jacob Epstein, which has just arrived for the Queensland National Art Cutlery. It was bought through the Ethel Nielsen bequest fund and will be displayed fora week, from to-mor- 'they are a bust of row. In the Queen Street Esther, the artist's datigh- window of Finney.. ter, a head entitled Non. 'three other -entwines and a head Sr playwright hy_Epslein will he shown George Bernard Shaw. during the SM.' period, in The Courirr-Nlail vestibule.