ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Misattributed Sam Rabin bronze bust of Barnett Freedman re-identified at Ben Uri

exhibition · 2026-04-27

A bronze portrait bust created in 1928 by Sam Rabin, which had been incorrectly credited to Stephen Tomlin and misidentified as Lydia Lopokova, has been found and is currently showcased at the Ben Uri Gallery & Museum in London. This piece, named Barnett Freedman (1901-1958), was mistakenly attributed to the Bloomsbury Group's Tomlin and even confirmed as Lopokova by a family member. It was donated to Doncaster Art Gallery (now Danum Gallery, Library and Museum) in 1963 by the Contemporary Art Society. The bust is featured in the exhibit Sam Rabin: The Art of the Ring, running from 5 February to 1 May 2026, which also highlights a 1934 painting by William Patrick Roberts titled Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle.

Key facts

  • Bronze bust by Sam Rabin from 1928
  • Depicts Barnett Freedman
  • Previously misattributed to Stephen Tomlin
  • Previously misidentified as Lydia Lopokova
  • Gifted by Contemporary Art Society to Doncaster Art Gallery in 1963
  • Now on display at Ben Uri Gallery & Museum, London
  • Exhibition: Sam Rabin: The Art of the Ring, 5 Feb – 1 May 2026
  • William Patrick Roberts painting Sam Rabin versus Black Eagle (1934) also referenced

Entities

Artists

  • Sam Rabin
  • Barnett Freedman
  • Stephen Tomlin
  • Lydia Lopokova
  • William Patrick Roberts

Institutions

  • Ben Uri Gallery & Museum
  • Contemporary Art Society
  • Doncaster Art Gallery
  • Danum Gallery, Library and Museum

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Doncaster
  • England

Sources