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Henry Moore Foundation secures important Moore portrait of early love for artist collections

The Henry Moore Foundation announced today that it has acquired a rare early pencil drawing by artist Henry Moore of his life-long friend Edna Ginesi, known as 'Gin'.  The drawing dates from 1921, when Moore was 23, and he and Ginesi were both studying at Leeds School of Art.

Moore fell in love with Ginesi during the three years that followed, but she had been engaged to his best friend Raymond Coxon throughout, and was never to return his affections.  However, their strong triangular friendship survived; with Moore the best man at their wedding. The couple remained loyal friends to the artist and to Irina Radetsky, who Moore married in 1929.  The Coxons were among the last to visit Moore at his home in Perry Green, Hertfordshire in 1986.

In a poignant detail, the drawing has been placed in a decorative mount painted by Irina Moore herself. This was her practice in the early stages of Moore's career.

This weekend marks the date of Henry Moore's birthday, 30 July.  The portrait rejoins the official collection of his work, left by him in the care of The Henry Moore Foundation.  Based at Perry Green, the collection is shown there and worldwide with a major exhibition next year at the Kremlin Museums in Moscow - the first ever modern artist to be shown in that venue.

Portrait of Mrs Raymond Coxon (Edna Ginesi) is catalogued as HMF 0, and was bought at Sotheby's from the Evill/Frost sale on 16 June for £7,000.

Anita Feldman, Henry Moore Foundation Head of Collections and Exhibitions, said: 'Moore rarely made portraits and this is a particularly early example. We wanted to acquire this for our collection not only because it is a beautiful drawing, but also because it has such a personal significance to Moore's early years as an artist.'

The drawing is in conservation at the Foundation's headquarters at Perry Green, Hertfordshire.  The artist's home and studios, sculpture grounds and exhibition Henry Moore: Plasters are open to the public at the Foundation until 31 October 2011.  www.henry-moore.org/pg.