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Henry Moore Artwork Catalogue

Shelter-Sketch-Book

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Shelter-Sketch-Book
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Bib. Number0005394

Shelter-Sketch-Book

Author/EditorMOORE Henry.
PublisherMarlborough
Place PublishedLondon
Year
Date & CollationAlbum of 80 facsimile collotypes, a three-page preface by Henry Moore, and original lithographs according to edition.
LanguageEnglish
More InformationPublished with Rembrandt Verlag (Berlin). Cramer 80-86. Facsimile collotypes from the two Shelter Sketch Books 1940-1942. There are French German Italian and two English editions A and B each of 180 copies... There is also an édition de tête of 75 copies." Moore describes carving at his Kent cottage before volunteering for tool-making course at Chelsea Polytechnic when Chelsea School of Art was evacuated. Moved from 11a Parkhill Road to 7 The Mall Studios when Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth left for Cornwall. Returning from town to Belsize Park one night Moore saw for first time people lying on platforms at all Northern Line stations. Noisy anti-aircraft barrage kept them at Belsize Park and Moore became fascinated by the scene. "There was tension in the air. They were a bit like the chorus in a Greek drama telling us about the violence we don't actually witness." From then Moore travelled to other Underground stations making notes and sketching the following day. Kenneth Clark saw the drawings and Moore became an official war artist. Whilst staying for weekend with Labour M.P. Leonard Matters at Much Hadham the Mall Studios suffered bomb blast. The Moores returned to Much Hadham rented and later bought Hoglands for £300. Moore travelled to London two days each week spending nights in underground and completing drawings back at Much Hadham. Describes techniques of pen and ink wax crayons and watercolour. After underground became organised Moore spent two weeks in coal mines three months completing drawings before returning to ideas for sculpture."