Sir Jacob Epstein (British, 1880-1959) First Portrait of Esther (with Long Hair) signed 'Epstein' (to lower back) bronze with a green patina 47cm (18 1/2in) high Conceived in 1944 Footnotes: Provenance Sale; Sotheby's, London, 9 July 1969, lot 59, where acquired by the previous owner Their Sale; Sotheby's, London, 26 May 2010, lot 41, where acquired by the present owner Private Collection, U.K. Exhibited London, Leicester Galleries, 'Girl with Gardenias' and Other Recent Sculpture by Jacob Epstein, May-June 1944, cat.no.10 (another cast, as Esther Amaryllis) Leeds, Leeds City Art Galleries, Jacob Epstein Sculpture and Drawings, 16 April-21 June 1987, cat.no.165, p.256 (ill.b&w, another cast, as Esther Garman, first portrait: with long hair); this exhibition travelled to London, Whitechapel Art Gallery, 3 July-13 September 1987 Literature Richard Buckle, Jacob Epstein Sculptor, Faber and Faber Limited, London, 1963, pp.292-295, pls.449-455 (ill.b&w, another cast) Evelyn Silber, The Sculpture of Epstein with a Complete Catalogue, Phaidon Press Limited, Oxford, 1986, pl.29, p.195, cat.no.355 (ill.b&w, another cast) The present lot depicts Epstein's youngest daughter, then aged 15, sitting for her father for the first time. Epstein was most fond of this sculpture and said 'If I had to be judged by one work I should choose this. It has all the qualities I most value in sculpture. I could not have done it better.' (Richard Buckle, Jacob Epstein Sculptor, Faber and Faber Limited, London, 1963, p.293) This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: AR AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing