Henry Moore: Sculptural Process and Public Identity

This standard questionnaire, sent to living artists represented in the Tate Gallery’s collection, was probably completed by Moore in late 1941 or shortly thereafter. Under the section titled ‘Particulars to Family History’ Moore provides a family tree, noting that he was the seventh child of Raymond Spencer Moore and Mary Baker.

There follows information about his education, including the names of his art tutors at both Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London, which he attended in 1919–21 and 1921–4 respectively. Moore identified two important events in his life, namely, serving in the First World War from 1917 to 1919, and travelling and studying in Europe in 1925. His major works to date are also identified, including Recumbent Figure 1938 (Tate N05387).

[Printed questionnaire with handwritten responses:]

Full Name Henry Spencer Moore

Address ‘Hoglands’ – Perry Green

Birth: Date 30th July 1898 Place: Castleford – Yorkshire.

Particulars as to Family History

[Paternal family:]

[Note on paternal great-grandfather:] His father [John Moore’s] from Ireland

[Paternal grandparents:]
John Moore Ann Spencer
(born in Lincolnshire
worked on the land)

[Father and mother:]
Raymond Spencer Moore Mary Baker

[Maternal family:]

[Maternal great grandfather:] Thomas Baker (farmer)

Education: Schools –

Elementary School – up to the age of 11 (1909.)
Then by scholarship to Castleford Grammar School (1909 – 1915)

Art Schools – Leeds School of Art (1919–1921) and Royal College of Art (1921–1924)

Art Masters – Walter Pearson } – Leeds School of Art
R.T. Cotterhill}

Important Events in Life:

Served in HM Forces in Great War (from 1917 to 1919). Gassed in Battle of Cambrai 1917 and invalided back to England Dec 1917 – demobilised 1919.
Travelled and worked abroad (on Travelling Scholarship won at RCA) for several months during 1925. Visiting Paris – Rome, Florence, Sienna, Venice – Ravenna etc.

List of Chief Works:

Works Where and when Exhibited Present Ownership

1929 Reclining Figure London and Zurich Leeds Art Gallery
(Brown Horton Stone)

1930 Reclining Woman London and Temple Newsam Tate Gallery
(Green Horton Stone)

1938 Mother and Child London and Provinces R.J. Sainsbury Esq.
(Hornton stone)

1939–40 Reclining Figure London and Provinces Miss Elizabeth
(Elm) Onslow Ford

Date of Election to Societies:

Member of London Group 1930