Gladiators: Hector and Ajax (Combat), small bronze figure group by Leon Underwood (1890-1975; active 1917-72), 1963.

Small bronze statue group of Hector and Ajax in combat on its original profiled base, signed Leon U, dated '63 and numbered I/VII on the bronze base.

I/VII

The bronze forms part of Leon Underwood's last phase of sculptural output. It demonstrates his well known, 'bronze skin' effect which saw him producing lively and complex surfaces with rough texturing (akin to Auguste Rodin) and employing hollow cavities (comparible to Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth). It is a good example of Underwood pushing the boundaries of the tensile strength of bronze to make it look highly flexible and almost weightless.

A version of Gladiators (Combat)was exhibited at the Camden Studios in 1967, the Minories in Colchester in 1969 and at the artist's last ever show at the Archer Gallery in 1969. This version, the first of seven, was acquired at auction in Colchester in 2013. The vendor, who inherited it from his father, recalls it being in the family for approximately 30 years. This suggests that it could possibly be the version displayed at the Minories in Colchester in 1969, from where it then might have been purchased. It may have had previous owners prior to the family from which it was bought, but at present, this is still unknown.

Gladiators: Hector & Ajax (Combat)
1963
Leon Underwood (1890-1975; active 1917-72)

This is the first cast in an edition of seven, shown at Underwood’s last ever show at London's Archer Gallery in 1967. It forms part of his last phase of sculptural output and demonstrates his well-known ‘bronze skin effect.’ This saw him producing lively and complex surface finishes with rough texturing akin to Auguste Rodin, and the use of hollow cavities comparable to Henry Moore. Having worked more with stone and wood in his early years, Underwood’s experiments in bronze accelerated in the late 1940s, when he began to operate his own foundry.

England
Bronze, signed ‘Leon U’ and numbered I / VII.
Museum no. A.4-2013

A.4-2013