Lot 981: The following six lots are from the Studio of Uli

The following six lots are from the Studio of Uli Nimptsch RA, Artist and Sculpture, 1897-1977- Uli Nimptsch RA 1897-1977- Ballerina; red and blue crayon over traces of pencil, 58x46cm: Seated female nude; pencil on tracing paper, signed and dated 34, together with a large folio of further coloured crayon and pencil studies, mostly depicting nude females, some signed, initialed and dated all circa 1930s, (folio) unframed Uli Nimptsch, Born in Berlin 1897, studied sculpture at the Berlin Academy and was awarded a Rome prize in 1928. He was based in Rome throughout the 1930s, frequently visiting Paris and returning to Germany in 1936-7. He left Germany for the sake of his Jewish wife Ruth. He went to Paris and Rome before settling in London in 1939 and took British nationality shortly after the War. Nimptsch exhibited at the Royal Academy almost annually from 1957, and was elected ARA in 1958, and RA in 1967. He bequeathed ten of his sculptures to the Academy, together with the portrait of himself by Oskar Kokoschka, who had been a close friend. The influence of Oskar Kokoschka is visible in his later drawings, his earlier studies with cleaner lines more precise and seemingly unaffected by any British influence at this time. (see lot 981) Kokoschka deemed a degenerate artist by the Nazis, fled Austria in 1934 for Prague. In 1938, he fled to the United Kingdom and remained here during the war and became a British citizen in 1946; only in 1978 did he regain Austrian citizenship. Contained within the personal letters and photographs are several intriguing pictures of Nimptsch and Kokoschka attending private functions and exhibitions throughout the '40s and '50s (see lot 986) Nimptsch's most notable commission is the statue of Lloyd George which stands opposite that of Sir Winston Churchill at the entrance lobby to the House of Commons. It was originally commissioned from Sir Jacob Epstein, who influence is also apparent in later portraits, and after his death was awarded to Uli Nimptsch. Portrait busts were commissioned of Paul Opp (1949, British Museum Print Room), Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1969, British Academy), and Viscount Brendan Bracken (Bracken House). A group 'The Good Samaritan' (1961) was commissioned by Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, and 'Neighbourly Encounter', (1961) by the London County Council for Silwood housing estate. He had one-man exhibitions at the Redfern Gallery (1942), Leeds (1944), Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (1957), Stone Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne (1965) and finally at the Diploma Gallery of the Royal Academy (1973). Work was also included in some of the Arts Council's outdoor sculpture exhibitions in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1951 'Girl Sitting on a Stone Plinth' was acquired by the Arts Council's collection. His best-known work, 'Olympia' (1956), a reclining nude lying full length, supported on an arm and a leg, was acquired by the Tate Gallery (Chantrey Bequest) in the year it was finished. There is a pastel portrait of Uli Nimptsch in the National Portrait Gallery by Haidee Becker (NPG 6464, 1976 . features celebrated murals by Fred Appleyard, Harold Speed, Gilbert Spencer and Leonard Roseman and sculptures by Uli Nimptsch. The Tate Gallery also catalogues 'Olympia' (T00097, 1953-6) and 'Seated Girl' (T00277, 1958) in the collection.

Subject to VAT