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Charles Smith , English, 20th century

Title

Cast of the Death Mask of George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Author, Playwright and Critic

Date20th century

MediumPlaster

Dimensions

31 cm

Credit LinePresented, Trustees of the British Museum, 1981

Object numberNGI.8254

Label TextIrish writer Shaw made significant contributions to the fields of criticism and drama in his lifetime. A prolific writer, he worked variously as a journalist, art and theatre critic and playwright, and was awarded the 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature. Shaw bequeathed one-third of his royalties to the National Gallery of Ireland, which he documented as playing a pivotal role in his childhood. Although Shaw appears wizened with age in this poignant death mask, his trademark beard makes it an identifiable likeness.