Leon Underwood (British 1890-1975) Bronze of the African Madonna, (Modern British Avant Garde Sculptor ) - Original bronze - the African Madonna with a fine brown Patination. Conceived in 1934/1935, signed to the base Leon. U., numbered IV-VIII, dated 36. on a gnarled walnut rustic wood base. total height 14 1/2''. Literature: The sculpture of Leon Underwood by Ben Whitworth, published Lund Humphries 2000 cat no. 93. African Madonna (variants) illustrated on page 60. His works can be seen in major British museums and public collections in the UK. He was the precursor of modern sculpture in Britain, attended the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal College of Art. In the first World War he worked with Solomon Joseph Solomon, Norman Wilkinson and Paul Klee as a camoufleur creating observation posts camouflaged as trees and other objects. In 1921, Underwood opened the Brook Green School of Art in Hammersmith. Amongst his many students, he taught Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. Moore later spoke of his indebtedness to Underwood's influence and teaching. He wrote a number of books on ancient African sculpture including Bronzes of West Africa, which were a great influence to him in later years for cycladic and African culture designs. Provenance - Mirfield Theological College of the Church of England, West Yorkshire. On Saturday October 22nd 2011, the monks at the college held an auction to raise money for the church renovations for the grade listed building. The bronze on offer was sold at this auction and mentioned in the catalogue and sold next to work by Eric Gill - entitled Lord Jesus Christ. The said bronze was also mentioned in the local paper, The Intelligent Weekly Press on 7th October 2011. See https://www.thepressnews.co.uk/press-news/monks-auction-prized-artefacts.