Sleeping Shelterer, 1941
MOORE, Henry
Image: © The Henry Moore Foundation. All Rights Reserved. DACS/www.henry-moore.org 2025/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
Henry Moore was one of the most important 20th century sculptors. One evening, during World War Two, he descended into a tube station which was being used as an air raid shelter. To his surprise he found the platform full of reclining figures, formed by the sleeping bodies draped in blankets. He then began to visit the tube stations regularly to draw the people sheltering there. The resulting Shelter Drawings form a distinct body of work, separate not only from Moore’s principal activity as sculptor, but also from the rest of his substantial legacy of drawings. They are, nevertheless, intimately linked to themes which concerned him throughout his career.
We have a duty of care to all our audiences. This website draws on legacy collections data. We recognise that some of this information may be outdated or discriminatory and we're currently working to review our records. If you have any questions or comments on an artwork, please contact us.
Copyright statement provided by Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
More like this
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
MOORE, Henry
© The Henry Moore Foundation. All Rights Reserved. DACS/www.henry-moore.org 2025/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Rie, Lucie
© Estate of the Artist/Derek Williams Trust/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales

Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
FREUD, Lucian
© Estate of Lucian Freud. All Rights Reserved 2025/Bridgeman Images/Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales
