EPSTEIN SENSATION

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1935, Page 5

EPSTEIN SENSATION

CHRIST CROWNED WITH THORNS.

WIDELY DIVERGENT VIEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright.

Rec. 8 p.m. London, March 6. Epstein’s annual sensation is being exhibited in the Leicester galleries. It is an 11 feet high marble statue, weighing seven tons, representing Christ crowned with thorns. The rough simplicity of the carving recalls the Easter Island figures. There is just enough detail to suggest tortured features and roped hands. The Manchester Guardian regards “Behold the Man” as the most impressive of Epstein’s great figures. The Times expresses the opinion that the principal weakness is an attempt at special facial significance which detracts from its impressiveness and making it sentimental.

The Daily Mail declares that no previous work of Epstein would produce such thunder and lightning of disapproval. It will profoundly shock sincere Christians because nothing farther from thejr conception of Christ is imaginable.

The News-Chronicle says the figure expresses pain and wretchedness without hope of resurrection or eternal life. The Evening News regards the face as pugnacious.

Epstein himself declines to explain it. “I made it,” he said. “There it is for all to interpret for themselves.” The price is 3000 guineas.