Henry Moore: Sculptural Process and Public Identity

ISBN 978-1-84976-391-2

Henry Moore Postcard to John Rothenstein (Front) 14 July 1964

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  • Henry Moore 'Postcard to John Rothenstein (Front)' 14 July 1964
  • Henry Moore 'Postcard to John Rothenstein (back)' 14 July 1964
  • Henry Moore 'Postcard to John Rothenstein (Front)' 14 July 1964

    Image 1 of 2Henry Moore Postcard to John Rothenstein (Front) 14 July 1964Tate Archive TGA 8726/3/11

  • Henry Moore 'Postcard to John Rothenstein (back)' 14 July 1964

    Image 2 of 2Henry Moore Postcard to John Rothenstein (back) 14 July 1964Tate Archive TGA 8726/3/11

In May 1955 Moore was approached to create a large-scale sculpture for the Unesco headquarters in Paris. The resulting reclining figure, made in 1957–8, was carved in travertine marble from the Carrara mountains in Italy. The commission initiated not only a new phase of carving for Moore but also a family tradition of spending two months each summer in Italy. In this postcard Moore informs John Rothenstein, Director of the Tate Gallery, that although he has made two visits to the marble quarries ‘the weather too nice and the will too weak’ to do any carving.

Transcript

[Printed on postcard:]
Veduta di Forte del Marmi
Cave sulle Apuane
[Handwritten:]
Hotel Byron - Forte dei Marmi.
Tuesday July 14th / 64.
Dear John and Elizabeth,
 We’re having a good holiday with hot sun and warm bathing. I’ve made one or two visits up the mountains to the quarries, and began to think of doing some work – but the weather has been too pleasant and the will too weak:– up to now.
 Hope your party at No.11 was wonderful – sorry we couldn’t come.
 Love from us both,
  Henry and Irina.
Sir John and Lady Rothenstein
Beauforest House
Newington
Warborough
Oxon.
INGHILTERRA.

How to cite

Henry Moore, Postcard to John Rothenstein (Front), 14 July 1964, in Henry Moore: Sculptural Process and Public Identity, Tate Research Publication, 2015, https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/henry-moore/henry-moore-postcard-to-john-rothenstein-front-r1145367, accessed 25 April 2024.