Ben Enwonwu Nigerian, 1917-1994
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, a sketch, 1958
Pastel on Paper
15cm x 37cm
Queen Elizabeth II sat for Ben Enwonwu 12 times, for a commissioned sculpture of Her Majesty, which was completed in 1957. Published literature has it that there was commentary around...
Queen Elizabeth II sat for Ben Enwonwu 12 times, for a commissioned sculpture of Her Majesty, which was completed in 1957. Published literature has it that there was commentary around the Africanness or otherwise of the sculpture (which was recently displayed at the National Museum, Lagos). This post-sculpture sketch which was carried out in 1958, shows Her Majesty with a markedly pointed nose. This is an important work for the discerning collector, considering its pre-independence context in the history of Nigeria.
Provenance
Purchased from the artist in Lagos, early 90sThen by descent
