Henry Moore

Henry Moore, a monumental figure in 20th-century art, was born into a working-class family in the mining town of Castleford, Yorkshire, in 1898. His father was determined that his sons would not follow him into the mines, so Moore was initially encouraged to train as a teacher. He enlisted in the British Army during World War I and was gassed at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, an experience that profoundly affected him. Upon his recovery and with the help of an ex-serviceman's grant, Moore finally pursued his lifelong ambition to become a sculptor, enrolling at the Leeds School of Art and later the Royal College of Art in London. There, he cultivated his unique biomorphic style, drawing influence from modernist and primitive art traditions.

Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Moore established himself among the European avant-garde, though not without controversy. His first solo exhibition in 1928 marked his rise to prominence, but the originality of his work often met with public criticism. Moore's artistic output was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, which forced him to concentrate on drawing. As an official war artist, he created a series of powerful drawings depicting Londoners sheltering in the Underground from the Blitz, images that resonated with the public and elevated his reputation.

After their London home was damaged by bombing, Moore and his wife, Irina, moved to Perry Green in Hertfordshire in 1940, where he would spend the rest of his life. The birth of their daughter, Mary, in 1946, inspired a renewed focus on family and the mother-and-child theme in his work. Moore's international fame solidified in the late 1940s and 50s, a period that brought major commissions and accolades, including the International Prize for Sculpture at the Venice Biennale in 1948. As he received increasingly ambitious projects, such as works for the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and the Lincoln Center in New York, his sculptures grew in scale and complexity.

Despite his international success and wealth, Moore lived a modest life, dedicating much of his fortune to the arts. In 1977, he established the Henry Moore Foundation to promote public enjoyment of the arts and preserve his legacy. Moore continued to work into his final years, producing a vast body of carvings, drawings, and monumental bronzes that are now displayed in public spaces around the world. He died at his home in Perry Green in 1986, leaving behind an artistic legacy that has secured his place as one of the most celebrated sculptors of the 20th century.

Maquette for Seated Torso - Henry Moore

Maquette for Seated Torso - Henry Moore

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