LONDON.- A work by the highly esteemed artist and sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986) that has never been seen publicly, is to be offered in a sale of Modern & Post-War British Art at Chiswick Auctions on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.

The work, titled Mother and Child was created in 1942 during the Second World War and belongs to a period when drawing took precedence in Moore’s oeuvre, as the materials for sculpture became scarce and therefore three-dimensional projects difficult to realise. The drawing in pencil and watercolour remained in the artist’s studio until it was gifted to the celebrated Italian actor and Journalist Sandro Paternostro in 1973 and it has remained with the family, until now.

Paternostro was working as a journalist in London in the early 1970s and was a keen amateur artist. He held an exhibition at Sixty One Gallery in London and Moore was amongst the visitors. The two men struck up a friendship and not long afterwards Moore gifted this current work to Paternostro (see photo below of them meeting). The work has remained with the Paternostro family who have cherished it ever since. It is currently on view at Chiswick Auctions until it goes under the hammer on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 with an estimate of estimate £15,000-25,000.

Krassi Kuneva, Head of Modern & Post War British Art at Chiswick Auctions, said: “We are delighted that Chiswick Auctions has been appointed to sell Henry Moore’s Mother and Child and thrilled to be able to offer the public a first glimpse! Having been held privately for so long, it’s wonderful to be a part of this special work’s onward journey.”