Sir Jacob Epstein (New York/England, 1880-1959) bronze portrait sculpture of the head of dancer Pola Nerenska. Mounted atop a stepped ebonized base with a “Do Not Remove” label for Seattle International Bank. Unsigned. Accompanied by a Sotheby’s 1994 sales receipt recording the sale of this work to Thomas Brumbaugh, and a copy of “The Sculpture of Epstein” catalog raisonne by Evelyn Silber, which illustrates and discusses the Pola Nerenska sculpture (no. 283) on page 183. 12″ H bronze, 16 1/2″ H x 10″ W x 12″ D overall, including base. Circa 1937. Note: The subject’s name is also spelled Pola Nirenska in some references. According to the catalog, this is one of five known castings by Epstein of the Viennese dancer; one is in the collection of the San Diego Museum of Art, and the plaster is in the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Additional ref. Black, p. 242 no. 228; Buckle, p. 238 pl. 365. Provenance: The Estates of Olen Bryant and the late Vanderbilt University art professor Thomas Brumbaugh, Clarksville, Tennessee. Biography: The National Portrait Gallery, London, calls Jacob Epstein “the leading modernist sculptor of his day”. Epstein was born in New York and studied at the Art Students League under George Grey Bernard, and in Paris, before moving to London in 1905, where he worked for most of his life. He championed many of the concepts central to modernist sculpture, including “truth to material” and inspiration from so-called “primitive art,” all of which became central to twentieth century practice. He was knighted in 1954. Source: The Tate Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, London. CONDITION: 1″ chip out of rear corner of base, otherwise excellent condition. We have not attempted to remove Seattle International Bank sticker from back of base.