The collection was bought by the Art Fund for £30,000 and now means that the gallery has one of the most important collections of prints outside London.
The Monroe picture was taken by world-renowned photographer Eve Arnold on the set of Monroe’s last feature film The Misfits that also starred screen legends Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift.
Andrew Macdonald, Deputy Director of The Art Fund, said: “The intimate and seductive image of Marilyn Monroe playing pool on the set of her final film The Misfits is just one of the many highlights in this eclectic collection of prints.
“Hugh Stoneman made an immense contribution to contemporary printmaking, reflected in this impressive archive that we are thrilled to give to Falmouth Art Gallery.”
The exhibition entitled the ‘Masters’ Master - The Art Fund High Stoneman Archive’ is now in its second week and features some of the collection's 99 prints.
Stoneman worked with a diverse range of well-known photographers and artists including Linda McCartney, George Shaw and Eve Arnold as well as famous Cornish artists like Barbara Hepworth.
For gallery details go to {www.falmouthartgallery.comIwww.falmouthartgallery.com}.
