Henry Moore in the United States : art, business and civic culture

Rose, Pauline (2006) Henry Moore in the United States : art, business and civic culture. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the monumental sculptures of Henry Moore [1898 – 1986] sited in corporate and civic locations in the United States. The rationale for this research was to investigate detailed empirical evidence, drawing heavily on archival material and journal/newspaper commentary, in order to understand how and why such commissions were realised. Corporate and civic bodies in America shared many over-arching concerns, particularly in the context of the Cold War period, such as a wish to co-opt specific ‘civilised’ values; to promote high moral and urban ideals; and to appropriate certain tropes of ‘Englishness’. That such characteristics were perceived by influential American curators, businessmen and politicians as residing in Henry Moore and his work is the fundamental finding of this study. Written and photographic commentary demonstrates that the ‘Englishness’ of Moore was in large part accountable for his success in the United States in the post-war period.

This thesis takes as its focus four American cities – Dallas, Chicago, Washington D.C. and New York – and examines prominent commissions, both private and public. These are located within a history of Moore’s successes in the United States which broadly spans the period from the 1940s to the 1980s. The commissions and exhibitions are placed within a number of relevant contexts; how the Cold War raised discussion concerning the defence of particular values – and how Moore’ sculptures could articulate these; the nature and qualities of ‘Englishness’ in the post-war period; the ‘special relationship’ between Britain and America; the key British and American supporters of Moore, and the transatlantic links between them; the workings and ambitions of American business; and the debates concerning the purpose of sculpture in urban public spaces.

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