Letters from Jacob Epstein, Benno Elkan, Margaret Epstein and Kathleen Garman to Mr and Mrs Samuels

Available online are seventeen letters from Jacob Epstein to the art collectors Mr and Mrs Samuels. The correspondence charts the beginnings of a more personal relationship between Epstein and the Samuels, who in the 1940's began to visit the artist and buy work directly from him. The letters concern purchases by Samuels of four of Epstein's important sculpture works and flower paintings including: 'The Visitation' 1928; 'R.B. Cunningham Grahame' 1923; a previously unattributed bronze of 'Peggy Jean' and 'The Girl from Baku' 1944. The letters also discuss the bombing of the Leicester Galleries in 1941 which impacted Epstein's exhibition at the time and Epstein's financial matters. The letters also illustrate that Epstein had an important role in introducing the Samuels to Matthew Smith.

Details of the remainder of the collection can be found on the Archive catalogue.

Collection Owner

Sir Jacob Epstein 1880–1959

Collection

Tate Archive

Acquisition

Purchased at auction (Lot 249) from the Swann Galleries, New York in May 1990.

Reference

TGA 9012