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First Portrait of Roma of Barbados: M.1-1945

An image of Head
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Current Location: Gallery 1

Titles

First Portrait of Roma of Barbados

Maker(s)

Sculptor: Epstein, Jacob

Entities

Categories

Description

Roma is shown with her hair in bunches on either side of her head, her head tilted slightly upwards, her eyes raised.

no. 1 of an edition of up to 6 (two other casts known)

Legal notes

Given by Mr J. Howard Bliss

Measurements and weight

Height: 35.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1945) by Bliss, J. Howard

Dating

20th Century, second quarter
1930s
George V
Production date: AD 1932

Note

Epstein made several portraits of Black women in the 1920s and 1930s, including two of this sitter. Although Epstein calls her ‘Roma of Barbados’, Roma was born in West Ham, in 1905 to a Black Caribbean father and white mother. In the 1939 census, she described herself as a ‘film and stage artist’. In 1933, Epstein made a second portrait of Roma, which includes her upper torso. The proudly-held head and wide-eyed, slightly dreamy gaze imbue this first study with great dignity, serenity, and timelessness. The bust-length portrait of Roma made the following year is arguably less successful because the head is more generalised, and its impact is diluted by an unconvincing torso, which appears unfinished.

Project

  • Sculpture UK

Materials used in production

Bronze

Techniques used in production

Casting (process) : Bronze, cast

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.1-1945
Primary reference Number: 12400
External ID: CAM_CCF_M_1_1945

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 25 June 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "First Portrait of Roma of Barbados" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/12400 Accessed: 2025-12-06 09:45:00

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/12400 |title=First Portrait of Roma of Barbados |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 09:45:00|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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