Lot 184: Barney Seale British, 1896-1957 , a head of nicolò paganini (1782-1840)

signed & dated: BARNEY SEALE 30 bronze, dark brown-green patina, on an ebonised wood base

measurements note bronze: 46cm., 18in. base: 9cm., 3 1/2 in.

Barney Seale was a painter as well as a sculptor. He worked on architectural projects such as the Lion for the Empire Exhibition in 1938 as well as creating the portrait busts for which he was best known. In addition to portraits of contemporaries Seale produced busts of historical characters. Paganini was the foremost violinist of the nineteenth century. His extraordinary skills were so envied that it was rumoured that he had sold his soul to the devil in return for his talent. In his bust Seale expresses all the intensity of genius.

RELATED LITERATURE
The Fine Art Society, nos. 97-98, pp. 136-7; Modern British Sculpture, p. 94