Dorothy Hodgkin's hands
Date
1978
Sitter
Dorothy Mary Crowfoot Hodgkin (1910 - 1994, British) , Chemist, Chemist
Creator
Henry Moore (1898 - 1986, British) , Sculptor
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 230mm
width (drawing): 275mm
height (drawing (framed)): 495
width (drawing (framed)): 550
width (drawing): 275mm
height (drawing (framed)): 495
width (drawing (framed)): 550
Subject
Content object
Description
Drawing of Dorothy Hodgkin’s hands and forearms. The subject suffered from arthritis from a relatively early age and this is evident in Moore’s work.
Dorothy Hodgkin was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1947.
Dorothy Hodgkin was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1947.
Transcription
DOROTHY HODGKIN, O.M., F.R.S.
BY HENRY MOORE, O.M.
GIFT OF THE ARTIST
BY HENRY MOORE, O.M.
GIFT OF THE ARTIST
Object history
From Defining Features: Scientific and Medical Portraits 1660-2000 (Ludmilla Jordanova): “Moore had met Hodgkin many years previously; when invited to produce a portrait he declined, offering to draw her hands instead.” [Defining Features: Scientific and Medical Portraits 1660-2000 by Ludmilla Jordanova (The National Portrait Gallery and Reaktion Books Ltd; London, 2000) pp. 156-157)].
The Royal Society’s Council Minutes state in April 1979 that: “Reported that a luncheon was being arranged on 25 April 1979 to mark the occasion of the acceptance by the President on behalf of the Society of a drawing by Henry Moore of Professor Dorothy Hodgkin’s hands.” [Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, vol.26, 1976-1979 p.768 meeting of 5 April 1979].
The Royal Society’s Officer’s Minutes state in November 1978 that: “The Biological Secretary reported that Henry Moore’s sketch of Professor Dorothy Hodgkin’s hands would be donated to the Society. It was agreed that a lunch should be arranged for the artist, his subject, Sir John Cornforth and the Officers early next year when the President would formally accept the sketch on behalf of the society” [Royal Society Officer’s Minutes, 39 November 1978, July 1975-October 1981 p. 172].
The Royal Society’s Council Minutes state in April 1979 that: “Reported that a luncheon was being arranged on 25 April 1979 to mark the occasion of the acceptance by the President on behalf of the Society of a drawing by Henry Moore of Professor Dorothy Hodgkin’s hands.” [Royal Society Minutes of Council, Printed, vol.26, 1976-1979 p.768 meeting of 5 April 1979].
The Royal Society’s Officer’s Minutes state in November 1978 that: “The Biological Secretary reported that Henry Moore’s sketch of Professor Dorothy Hodgkin’s hands would be donated to the Society. It was agreed that a lunch should be arranged for the artist, his subject, Sir John Cornforth and the Officers early next year when the President would formally accept the sketch on behalf of the society” [Royal Society Officer’s Minutes, 39 November 1978, July 1975-October 1981 p. 172].
Associated place