Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975)

Matthew Gale and Chris Stephens comment, 'The title is a botanical one. A 'corymb' is one of several types of 'indeterminate' inflorescence (or cluster of flowers) in which the flower buds are borne on longer stems (pedicels) giving the cluster a flat head of flowers. Hepworth had long been a keen gardener and the walled garden at Trewyn, where her works are sited, provided the opportunity to extend this enthusiasm. Although some coincidence of form may be found between a corymb and the sculpture, it is possible that a more general idea of inflorescence linked the two' (see M. Gale and C. Stephens, op. cit.).

Cast number 1/9 of Corymb is on loan from the artist's estate and on display in the artist's Trewyn Studio garden at the Barbara Hepworth Museum, St Ives. Cast 2/9 is in the collection of the Städtisches Museum, Leverkusen.

S.B.