Press

A 3^rd- 4^th century marble Greco-Persian lynx belonging to artist Henry Moore and described by him as 'a marvellous little object' has been returned for public display to his former home in Hertfordshire as part of a loan from the Moore Family Collection. His house, Hoglands, and sculpture grounds, are run by The Henry Moore Foundation, the charity he set up to protect his legacy, in the rural hamlet of Perry Green in Hertfordshire.

Mary Moore, the artist's daughter, said: "It's most exciting to see the Lynx back in its home in the yellow sitting room.  This piece of sculpture was one of my father's favourite possessions, as his late drawings from the years just before his death witness.  It's almost as though its presence brings him back into this room."

Moore often talked about the Lynx sculpture to visitors. He used it not just to explain the possibilities of stone carving, but also more broadly to teach them how to look at an object.  He is shown with the Lynx in the 1974 Henry Moore at Home, in footage that is available to view on the BBC Archive website [link]. Asked why he liked it so much, he said:

"I think this is a wonderful example of vitality being put from the sculptor into a dead material. It's a lynx, but it's got such life; the back here is so much like a cat or that kind of animal, this slackness in here of the loose skin, the tautness of the muscles, the litheness of it all and the kind of vicious little face and bite sense of it, it's got something tremendously, it's remarkable."

Opened to the public in 2007, Hoglands has been restored to show the family life of the artist just as it was from the late sixties until his death in 1986, with his collection of personal belongings, diverse found objects and important paintings on display alongside examples of Moore's own sculpture.

As well as the Lynx, the Moore Family Collection have kindly lent a painting by Ivon Hitchens Cyclamen, c.1935, and an Aztec Head also from the artist's personal collection. 

Richard Calvocoressi, Director of The Henry Moore Foundation, has said that he is 'delighted' at the loan of the works, expressing his thanks to the Family Collection.

Outside Hoglands, the gardens created by Moore's wife Irina, lead into around 70 acres of outdoor sculpture, studios, a gallery currently exhibiting Henry Moore Plasters, and a medieval timbered Aisled Barn with his unique tapestries.

There are 30 outdoor works on view for the 2012 season, more than ever before, which coupled with the indoor displays makes Perry Green the best place to see Henry Moore's work worldwide.

His first studio at Perry Green, the Top Studio, has been newly recreated for the 2012 season.

Visitor Season 3 April - 28 October 2012.