Singer (La Chanteuse Triste) (1913)

Henri Gaudier-Brzeska

Derby stone

Tate, London, Liverpool and St Ives

Classification:

Sculpture

Materials:

Stone

Physical Object Description:

Stone sculpture of female

Dimensions:

85.1 x 21.6 x 15.9 (Permanently attached to MDF plinth base 2.5 x29.2 x 31.0cm) cm

Accession Number:

N04514

Credit:

Presented by the Contemporary Art Society, 1930

Scheme:

Gift

Ownership history:

Accepted (N04514-N04533) by the Tate Gallery in November 1926 as a permanent loan from the intestate estate of the late Miss Sophie Brzeska (1872-1925) through the Treasury Solicitor; acquired and gifted by C. Frank Stoop (1863-1933) to the Contemporary Art Society, 1930; presented to the Tate Gallery, 1930

Relationship:

Sophie (Zofia) Suzanne Brzeska Tate, London, Liverpool and St Ives C. (Cornelius) Frank Stoop

In his correspondence in September 1913 the sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska mentions that he was to meet the art dealer and collector Joseph Duveen (19869-1939), with a view to making some garden ornaments for him. This stone Singer (1915) is one of Gaudier-Brzeska's largest sculptures to date, possibly intended as an external sculpture. whilst the subject is quite rare. A later French title: La Chanteuse Triste introduces a perceived note of melancholy. Gaudier-Brzeska's female figure grabs her hair from behind with her right hand; stylised pigtails were also popular at this time in the stone carvings of his fellow artists Eric Gill and Jacob Epstein.

The collection that owns this artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.