This is a guide to Moore's sculptures on public display throughout the world. We strive to ensure that all information is accurate, however we recommend that you contact each venue before making a visit. Please also contact us if you spot any mistakes. In some instances it has not been possible to source an image of the actual sculpture in-situ, and on such occasions an alternative image has been used.
bronze
length 221cm
United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold had written to Henry Moore to discuss the acquisition of one of his sculptures for the UN site in New York. Unfortunately Hammarskjold died in a plane crash before matters could be concluded. As a memorial Reclining Figure: Hand was given to the UN by The Henry Moore Foundation. In a letter to George Ivan Smith, Director of United Nations Office London, Moore writes:
When Dag Hammarskjold suggested that I might make a sculpture for the garden of the UN building in New York, as you know I was pleased to agree because of my personal admiration for him and my feeling that all artists of this country would like to show their support for the wonderful work done by the UN to preserve the world for art (and everything else). I am hoping that I may still proceed with the project as though he were still alive, and present it to the UN in honor of his memory.
Quoted in Edward B. Marks, A World of Art: The United Nations Collection, Rome 1995, p.18.