Miriam - One of a series requested by James Lauchlin of New Directions and envisaged to illustrate a book of poetry by Brian Patchen.
Numbered 32
Numbered 53 - Has the faint outline of what may have been an alternative sketch on the reverse
No date, no signature
Bust commissioned by Renato Wilde. Jean Genet came to London with Wilde in January 1952 and sat for the bust at Henghes' Albert Bridge Studios. Initial sketches were made on the 20th and the plaster cast (shown here) was completed by the 25th Jan. A bronze cast would also have been made.
Genet and Henghes knew each other over a number of years with most of their meetings being at Wildes villa Rospini in Rapallo. (See also article on pool at the villa Rospini).
Entry for a competition held by the ICA. The aim of the competition was to create a memorial "to pay tribute to those individuals who, in many countries and diverse political situations, had dared to offer their liberty or their lives for the cause of human freedom". The competition itself was won by Reg Butler though the project was abandoned in 1960.
Only two of the four original figures survive.
Male torso in 5 views. Signed H. Henghes, juillet 53, Etudes pour torso en perre jaune.
This work was an entry in a sculpture competition for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) headquarters in London; Congress House. Though a finalist and the only piece commended by the judges for the inner courtyard the commission was eventually to be completed by Epstein.
Signed H. Henghes 55