Expecting something from the sky. That’s what Henry Moore said about his Three Standing Figures. Here in Battersea Park, we’re face to face with this iconic sculpture.
The Three Standing Figures is a large stone sculpture by Henry Moore. It stands seven feet tall. Moore created it between 1947 and 1948. It was showcased at the London County Council’s initial Open-Air Sculpture Exhibition in Battersea Park in 1948. The council received it as a gift. Since 1950, it has been displayed in the park. In 1988, it gained recognition as a Grade II listed building.
Look closely. The statue features three standing women. They are draped in flowing garments. Two stand close together. The third observes them. Each figure has simple facial features. For example, they only have holes to represent eyes.
Moore’s draped figures came from his shelter drawings. He drew people in underground bomb shelters during World War II. In 1968, Moore said the women seem to expect something from the sky. A critic named Sylvester saw them as a family. He described a protective mother, a stern father and a child looking to the future.
Moore started with a terracotta model around 1945. Its location is now unknown. But, there are two plaster copies. One is at the Henry Moore Foundation. The other is on loan to the Tate Gallery. Moore also made a bronze version. He cast four copies between 1948 and 1949. An extra artist’s copy was made in 1985. You can find these sculptures in Massachusetts and Venice.
The Three Standing Figures here was carved from Darley Dale sandstone. Moore worked on it from August 1947 to May 1948. It’s one of his last stone statues made with English stone. It was meant for the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Instead, it appeared at the Battersea Park exhibition.
Moore helped pick sculptures for the Open-Air Exhibition. His work was even on the poster. The Three Standing Figures stood on a small hill with trees behind it. Moore’s fame grew after 1948. He was named Britain’s best living artist at the Venice Biennale. He also won a prize for his sculpture. The Contemporary Art Society bought the sculpture. Then, they gave it to the London County Council. It has been in Battersea Park since 1950.
Did you know Mr. Bean featured the sculpture? In “Mr. Bean Goes to Town,” he tries to take a selfie with it. When he fails, someone steals his camera.
The Three Standing Figures is more than stone. It embodies history. It shows resilience. It sparks different interpretations. Moore’s figures continue to watch. They invite us to ponder their story and our own.