Henry Moore
Object Sculpture
Artist Henry Moore
Period 20th Century
This Bronze Form sculpture by Henry Moore is in the Botanic Gardens in Wellington, New Zealand. It is the sixth of six sculptures in this series that exist in the world.
After a proposal was made by conceptual artist Billy Apple, to remove the lacquered coating and allow the bronze form to interact with the environment and patinate naturally, the Wellington City Council asked Studio Carolina Izzo to research the best method to proceed.
The research needed to address the intention of the artist, and the best methods to conserve and maintain the sculpture. To do this the Studio had to open lines of communication with the Henry Moore Foundation, the Getty Museum and all other institutions that have one of the six sculptures.
A Brief History. Henry Moore’s Bronze Form was acquired by the Wellington Sculpture Trust in 1987 from the Henry Moore Foundation with funds gifted by Fletcher Challenge through Wellington City Council’s Art Bonus Scheme. The Sculpture arrived in February 1988 and was erected at Midland Park in the heart of the city. The Bronze Form was relocated to the Wellington Botanic Garden in 1996 where it now stands.
“Bronze is a wonderful material, it weathers and lasts in all climates. One only has to look at the ancient bronzes for example, the Marcus Aurelius equestrian statue in Rome. I love to stand beneath this statue because it is so big. Under the belly of the horse, the rain has left its marks which emphasise the section where it has run down over the centuries. This statue is nearly two thousand years old, yet the bronze is in perfect condition. bronze is really more impervious to the weather than most stone. ” Henry Moore.
The Marcus Aurelius equestrian statue in Rome has since been moved to the Capitoline museum after conservation because of the extensive degradation of the elements exposed to the open environment since the 18th Century.
The Gold Leaf Shop
