Modelled in the artist’s studio.

Commissioned by family.

Leopold Abse (born April 22nd 1917) is a British politician from Wales. He was a Labour Member of Parliament 30 years and is noted for promoting private members bills to legalise homosexual relationships and liberalise the divorce laws.

Abse swiftly acquired a reputation for independence of spirit. He made a point of dressing flamboyantly on Budget day, and liked to drop references from Freudian psychotherapy into his speeches, which had partly been learned from Professor Wilfred Abse, his elder brother and a professional psychiatrist. Although his abilities might have taken him to high office, Abse had a complete lack of ambition and never desired anything more than to be a backbench MP. This factor, together with the fact that he had a safe seat, freed him from the restrictions which prevented other MPs taking up controversial subjects.