Leon Underwood 1890-1975
Mother and Child
oil on canvas
11 x 13 ins




Underwood has been called 'the father of the modern sculpture in Britain' and although the development and range of his work clearly show the importance of his achievements, it is surprising how little critical acclaim he has received.

The structure of Underwood's creativity came from drawing the figure. He taught life drawing at the Royal College of Art for two years. In the 1920s he opened a life drawing school in London where his first pupils included Eileen Agar and Henry Moore.

In his search for significant subject matter Underwood travelled to Poland, Iceland, Spain, Mexico and Africa.

Underwood's interest in Mexico was originally aroused by seeing ancient Mexican art at the British Museum. In 1927, whilst working as an illustrator in New York, he had the idea for a book retracing a journey through Mexico made in 1839 by John L Stevens and the artist Catherwood.

In January 1928 Underwood set off with his friend Phillips Russell down the South-Eastern shore of the Gulf of Mexico. They travelled up the rivers of Tabasco and over the Sierra Madre to the Pacific, east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Underwood made many drawings not just as illustrations for the book but also as reference for his own paintings and sculpture. This journey
remained a vibrant inspiration which fascinated Underwood for ten years.