Sculptor Nemon persuaded Freud to sit for him in Vienna and London

Oscar Nemon at Work on His Sculpted Portraits of Sigmund Freud.

In 1920, when Nemon was a very young sculptor and an entranced admirer of the celebrated psychologist's work, he approached Freud through one of his pupils with a request to be allowed to model him, but Freud rejected the proposal outright. In 1931 Nemon returned to the same request, coming once more to Vienna, and again Freud was not prepared to sit for him, although the man now offering his services was no longer a beginner but a sculptor of some standing, with a good education and a portfolio to show for it. After some hesitation, Freud nevertheless agreed to meet Nemon, but only very briefly. Nemon at once made several sketches, so that that very evening, in his hotel room, he could model a small likeness while the impression was fresh. Freud would later say that it was precisely this approach and this single-mindedness that impressed him, and that this was why he agreed to go on sitting. They began to meet from time to time, Freud giving Nemon what time he could between appointments, and the meetings were highly productive. Nemon made a great many models for future sculptures, timed to coincide with Freud's 75th birthday. Freud was not merely satisfied with the result; he compared the artist's work to the work of the good Lord.

Over the following years they continued to see one another, and Nemon returned again and again to his portraits of Freud. In 1938 they met once more, this time in London, where both of them found themselves in exile. And Freud sat for him again. Nemon would create busts, profiles, reliefs and full-length sculptures of Freud in metal, wood, clay and plaster. Some of the works Freud was glad to keep for himself. Others were acquired by his children. Freud's daughter wrote to Nemon of the delight with which all her guests regarded her father's small bust, and asked him to make another like it as a gift for her sister.