Portrait of Charlotte , 1945
80 x 52 cm (h x w)
Oil on canvas

© Julius Rosenbaum estate

The sitter, Charlotte Melnikov (née Nissen), wife of Russian-born sculptor, Avram Melnikov, was also a painter and exhibited with Ben Uri in 1948. Julius Rosenbaum's wife Adele Reifenberg also painted Charlotte, probably in the same sitting, and both portraits were exhibited at Ben Uri in 1950.

Rosenbaum worked in a realistic expressive style and one reviewer (Barbara Wright, Arts Review, 14.10.57) remarked of his 1957 Memorial exhibition at Ben Uri Gallery that there was 'no gaiety' in his work - which she attributed to his experience as a refugee. His 'Portrait of Charlotte' challenges this remark, however, for despite the sitter's unsmiling expression, the bold palette and expressive brushstrokes conjur a lively presence.

Exhibited by:

Ben Uri Research Unit

More from Ben Uri Research Unit

Looking Out , 2019
24 x 30 cm (h x w)
acrylic on canvas
Ben Uri Research Unit
On the Road , 2019
122 x 153 cm (h x w)
oil pastel and charcoal
Ben Uri Research Unit
Refugee Girl , 2020
10 x 32 cm (h x w)
Mixed media
Ben Uri Research Unit
Crucifixion at the Border , 2018
90 x 74 cm (h x w)
oil and collage on board
Ben Uri Research Unit
Early Morning , 2020
12 x 35 cm (h x w)
acrylic and pastel on paper
Ben Uri Research Unit