Albert Einstein Bust: The True Story Behind the Most Famous Genius Portrait
Albert Einstein Bust: The True Story Behind the Most Famous Genius Portrait
The bust of Albert Einstein – with its wild hair, thoughtful eyes, and distinctive moustache – is instantly recognisable as the face of 20th-century genius. For nearly a century it has symbolised creativity, curiosity, and scientific revolution.
The Original 1933 Portrait by Jacob Epstein
In 1933, British-American sculptor Jacob Epstein was commissioned to create a bronze portrait of Einstein during the physicist’s visit to England. Epstein captured Einstein at age 54 – hair flowing, eyes deep with thought, and a slight smile that hints at his famous sense of humour.[1]
The resulting bronze bust became the defining image of Einstein, reproduced worldwide and now held in major collections.
14GTR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Iconic 1947 Oren Jack Turner Photograph (Princeton, N.J.)
In 1947, American photographer Oren Jack Turner captured Einstein at age 68 in Princeton, New Jersey. The head-and-shoulders portrait – showing the physicist with his signature wild white hair, piercing eyes, and gentle expression – became one of the most reproduced images of Einstein’s later years.[2]
This Turner photograph is the direct inspiration for our Acclaimed Figures bust, capturing Einstein in reflective maturity.
Key Features of the Authentic Einstein Portrait
- Flowing, uncombed white hair – Turner captured it naturally disheveled
- Deep-set eyes and furrowed brow – the “thinking” look
- Full moustache and slight smile – humanising the genius
- Broad shoulders and simple background – focusing attention on the face
The Most Important Museum Examples
- National Portrait Gallery, London – original 1933 Epstein bronze
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – cast from Epstein’s model
- Library of Congress – Oren Jack Turner negative (1947)
Why These Portraits Became the Standard
Epstein’s 1933 bust shows Einstein in his prime. Turner’s 1947 photograph captures him in wisdom. Together they define the two sides of the genius – the revolutionary and the reflective.
Einstein Bust Replicas
Original Epstein bronzes and Turner photographs are priceless. The most accurate modern replicas are now produced in premium unsaturated resin – based directly on these iconic references.
At Acclaimed Figures we use Oren Jack Turner’s 1947 Princeton photograph as our master reference, reproducing every hair strand and expression line. Available in Antique Bronze or Stone White, 26.6 cm tall, on an engraved charcoal base with “Albert Einstein 1879–1955”.
→ View the Albert Einstein Bust Replica
