The Arch 1979–1980
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''The Arch 1979–1980'' (LH 503c) is a large stone sculpture by
Henry Moore Henry Spencer Moore (30 July 1898 – 31 August 1986) was an English artist. He is best known for his semi-abstract art, abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art. As well as sculpture, Mo ...
located in
Kensington Gardens Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, are among the Royal Parks of London. The gardens are shared by the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and sit immediately to the west of Hyd ...
,
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. It was given to the park by Moore in 1980.


Comment of the artist

In a 1980 interview Moore said that "After the 1978 exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London, in which several large pieces were located in Kensington Gardens, there was a request for me to leave a sculpture there permanently, which I agreed to do. I thought the Large Arch was very naturally sited, particularly as it could be seen reflected in the water from across the lake. During the exhibition, many people believed the sculpture to be made of marble, but in fact it was a fibreglass exhibition cast made originally for my exhibition at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence (1963), because of the difficulty of getting a very heavy bronze or marble on to the site. Therefore, so that it could be left as a permanent sculpture in Kensington Gardens, I produced a version in travertine marble which is a very lasting material."HM/DM recording 1980. Extracts from conversations with the artist recorded by David Mitchinson, Much Hadham, 1980. Published in Henry Moore Sculpture, with comments by the artist, Macmillan London Ltd, 1981.


Restoration

''The Arch'' was found to be unstable in 1996, and was subsequently dismantled and placed into storage. It was restored and replaced in its original location in 2012.


See also

* List of sculptures by Henry Moore


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arch 1979-80, The 1980 in London 1980 sculptures Limestone sculptures in the United Kingdom Outdoor sculptures in London Sculptures by Henry Moore Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster Tourist attractions in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Kensington Gardens