Henry Moore - The Language of Sculpture
This programme observes people examining Henry Moore's sculptures in the magnificent setting of the Forte de Belvedere, which was partly designed by Michelangelo and overlooks Florence. Through his signature technique of long, exploratory film sequences set to a musical score, producer John Read provides insightful analysis and detailed views of several of the pieces. There are also contributions from Henry Moore himself and a selection of very early sketches from the time he was a reluctant student of art in Italy at the age of 26.
The exhibition at Florence was an artistic gamble and a logistical nightmare to put together given the narrow access points, the slippery cobbles of the fortress courtyards and the effect of heat on wax in the mixed-media works such as the shelter drawings. However, concerns that some might object to the fact that the first major show of a living artist's work at the Belvedere was by a foreigner proved to be unfounded and the exhibition was a popular and artistic success. Moore himself said in 1974 that it was the pinnacle of his career and led him to create works on a larger scale.
