Sir Thomas Beecham, Bt. 1915

Curator: Here we have a bronze bust of Sir Thomas Beecham by Ivan Meštrović, held in the Tate collection. Editor: Immediately striking—a sense of restrained power, wouldn't you say? The cool, almost metallic finish gives him an aloof presence. Curator: Meštrović, born in Croatia, really had a knack for capturing the essence of his subjects. Look at the lines of the face. Editor: Yes, the formal structure is quite deliberate; the brow, the set of the jaw... all contributing to an air of authority. It's a study in how geometry communicates character. Curator: It almost feels like I could ask him what he thinks about modern music. I imagine he would say something witty, you know? Editor: Well, quite possibly! Though the cool bronze might also suggest a resistance to modern innovation, a clinging to classicism... Curator: Maybe, or maybe he's just pondering the best way to conduct it! Either way, it's a thought-provoking piece. Editor: Indeed. A solid example of how form and material create such complex, layered impressions.