Tag Archives: public art

Stark naked and crouching on a pedestal in London’s Mayfair

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MY PARENTS HAD a small collection of works of modern art in our home in London’s Hampstead Garden Suburb. These included an engraving by the Italian artist Emilio Greco (1913-1995). I have no idea where this image is now, but having grown up with it I was familiar with the artist’s name even if I knew nothing about him.

Today (14 July 2025) while walking near the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, we passed a modern fountain, and close to it, a bronze sculpture of a naked woman, perched on a cylindrical stone pedestal. On the pedestal are carved the words: “A gift to the City of Westminster from the President of the Italian Republic. 20th November 1987. Sponsored by the Italian Bank in London.” The President at that time was Francesco Cossiga (1928-2010).  There was no mention of the creator of this artwork on the pedestal. However, at the base of the sculpture I could make out: “Emilio Greco 1977”. It had been made by the artist, whose engraving used to hang on the wall of our living room.

A website (https://pssauk.org/public-sculpture-of-britain/biography/greco-emilio/) provides some information about the artist, and his sculpture in Mayfair, which is a bronze casting of his sculpture “Crouching Figure No. 4”, created in 1973.  

The sculpture is a great addition to the area, and is sometimes referred to as ‘Mayfair Lady’!

A sculpture in Central London that needs some care and attention

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AT THE NORTHEAST corner of London’s Lincoln’s Inn Fields, there is a tall (15 feet high), wavelike, metal art work. I am undecided whether this sculpture by Barry Flanagan (1941-2009), who began studying at St Martins School of Art shortly before my mother stooped sculpting there, is a flattering addition to the historic Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Called “Camdonian” and constructed with a kind of steel, it was created in 1980.

It was restored in 2022, but now (April 2025), it is covered with graffiti and dirt including bird droppings. It needs to be cleaned up. As a sculpture, it appeals to me, but I do not feel that it enhances the locality where it is placed. Although it is large, it looks a bit lost where it is.

Knife Edge outside the Houses of Parliament

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THERE ARE MANY sculptures by Henry Moore (1898-1986) in London’s public spaces (see: https://londonist.com/london/art-and-photography/where-to-find-henry-moore-sculptures-in-london). One of them, “Knife Edge Two Piece”, can be seen on College Green, opposite the Houses of Parliament.  Consisting of two huge pieces of bronze, this was created by Moore between 1962 and 1965. Its form was inspired by a fragment of animal bone, as are many of his other sculptures. When we visited Moore’s home in Perry Green (Hertfordshire), we saw display cases filled with bits of bone the artist had collected over the years,

The sculpture outside the Houses of Parliament is one of three casts of the same work. The other two are in Canada and the USA. Moore donated the sculpture that stands in Westminster, to the Nation in 1967.  In 2011, it became part of the Parliamentary Art Collection. It is now a listed object. It is one of only 41 post-WW2 sculptures in Britain to have been awarded the listed status.

Henry Moore is one of the greatest of British twentieth century artists. It is fitting that his sculpture should stand amidst buildings that have played, and continue to play, important roles in the life of the country.