LATE MRS HENRY WILKES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 143, 18 June 1931, Page 10

LATE MRS HENRY WILKES.

The death has occurred in Sydney of Mrs Henry Wilkes, better known to New Zealanders as Miss May Moore, who gained considerable fame as a producer of photographic portraits and miniatures. Miss Moore studied painting at the Elam School of Art in Auckland, under Mr J. Finstrom, and was a well-known exhibitor at art exhibitions in all New Zealand cities. After leaving Auckland Miss Moore took up temporary residence, in Wellington, w'here she had several painting commissions, and while engaged in that city commenced to take photographs. So great was her success in this branch of her work that she opened up a business of her own and enjoyed considerable success. Her reputation in New Zealand as a portrait photographer increased to such an extent that in 1913 she sold out and settled in Sydney, where she established herself in a studio in King Street, which soon became the rendezvous of art-lovers in that city. Miss Moore was brought by her work into contact with most of the world celebrities visiting the Commonwealth, and her gallery contained a great collection of portraits of famous men and women. The business grew to such dimensions during the years of the war that it was found necessary to draw on the foremost craftsmen of Australia and the staff at the May Moore Studios was one of the greatest of its kind ia the Commonwealth.

Failing health induced Miss Moore to retire with her husband, Mr Henry Hammond Wilkes, to their home at Mosman, where the couple devoted themselx’es enthusiastically to the beautifying of their large gardens. Miss Moore was included in the recent publication, “ Famous Australian Women.”