THIS IS THE FIRST TIME the Henry Moore Institute has devoted an exhibition to a single material. Although there are many bronzes in this exhibition about bronze, the subject is, in an important sense, singular rather than plural. This is a show about the meaning of bronze and not a show about the identification or analysis of different bronze casts and editions.

……

This exhibition looks beyond the surface of bronze to its inner resonance, bringing together historic and contemporary objects that demonstrate the material's sensory, symbolic and spiritual associations. Used in worship as well as warfare, bronze communicated the power of church and state visually and experientially, through sound, scent and light. Ceremonial objects such as incense burners and lamps connected private contemplation with public ritual, while bells, cannon and statues presented faith, death and immortality as interchangeable symbols.

Tracing the origin of these ideas in religion, alchemy, astrology and political ideology, the catalogue explores the association of bronze with perceptions about nature and cycles of life and death. Expressed in a more formal language in contemporary sculpture, the intrinsic qualities of bronze continue to create new meanings relevant to our times.

Preface

Penelope Curtis

Introduction

Martina Droth

BRONZE, THE MYTHOLOGY OF A METAL

  Frits Scholten

UNDER THE SIGN OF VULCAN

  Michael Cole

Catalogue of Exhibits

  Martina Droth

ORIGINS AND PROPERTIES

POWER AND MORTALITY

RETURN TO ORIGINS

Bibliography