The Sunbather

Humphrey Paget was responsible for a number of outstanding coinage designs in the mid-20th century, including the ship halfpenny and the coinage portrait of George VI. What may be less well known is that he taught life modelling at the Central School in London and indeed this other aspect of his work would not even be immediately apparent to those familiar with the correspondence between him and the Royal Mint.

Some time after his death a member of his family contacted the Royal Mint and very generously donated Paget’s OBE and three sculptures by the artist. The bronze sculpture shown here, The Sunbather, is signed by Paget and formed part of that very welcome gift to the Royal Mint Museum. Especially for someone so prolific as a designer of coins and medals, it is instructive to be reminded of the breadth of his work.