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Large Four Piece Reclining Figure by Henry Moore – 1973 – BronzeThis piece, by Henry Moore, sits prominently in the Civic Center, and an easy one to see and enjoy by anyone that visits San Francisco.
In the early 1970s Moore produced a group of monumental sculptures relying heavily on the curve or arc as its principal motif. This work exemplifies the trend, its complex semi-abstract composition and highly polished bronze patina making it a ‘difficult’ work to read. The hollows, voids and truncated elements do, however, bind together very successfully to make a sculpture filled with warmth and movement.
There are seven casts of this sculpture around the world. San Francisco’s, reportedly purchased for $400,000, was a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Rouda in 1980.
His forms are usually abstractions of the human figure, typically depicting mother-and-child or reclining figures. Moore’s works are usually suggestive of the female body, apart from a phase in the 1950s when he sculpted family groups. His forms are generally pierced or contain hollow spaces. Many interpreters liken the undulating form of his reclining figures to the landscape and hills of his birthplace, Yorkshire.
Moore was born in Castleford, the son of a coal miner. He became well-known through his carved marble and larger-scale abstract cast bronze sculptures, and was instrumental in introducing a particular form of modernism to the United Kingdom. His ability in later life to fulfill large-scale commissions made him exceptionally wealthy. Yet he lived frugally and most of the money he earned went towards endowing the Henry Moore Foundation, which continues to support education and promotion of the arts.
I visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park last fall and to see the Moore sculptures there against the landscape was incredible. It is an old estate with acres of rolling hills and sculptures sprinkled about the park. Priceless.
I don’t know much about sculpture, but I recognized his style immediately — so captivating!
I do like this piece…the organic feel of the curves is very attractive.
Yes, I too like this sculpture, and I do not know much about sculpture. I think it is well placed in that what you see through the sculpture and the juxtaposition. But I am really unschooled in this. I am sending the window washers over.
Wonderful examples and the civic centre connection is nicley co-incidental. You mention that Moore was born in Castleford, and today is the 42nd anniversary of the opening of the castleford civic centre, outside of which is a Henry Moore reclinng figure that he donated to the centre in 1979.