A major exhibit of monumental works by pre-eminent British sculptor Henry Moore was recently held at the famous Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in London. Twenty-eight of Moore's outdoor sculptures were gathered from across England and sited in Kew Gardens from September, 2007 to March, 2008, making it the first exhibition of its kind in London. It was also one of the most well-attended events ever held at Kew Gardens.

But, did you know that we have one of Henry Moore's sculptures right here in Houston?

"Large Spindle Piece" was created by Moore in 1969 and was originally part of Moore's Spindle series which was placed in London's Hyde Park to honor the sculptor. In 1979, the tall bronze sculpture was purchased by the Knox Foundation and given to the City of Houston.

Originally, the sculpture was to stand in Tranquility Park. However, when Moore came to Houston, he deemed the proposed site there unsuitable, saying it was too complicated, too confined and that the architecture surrounding it would interfere with the lines of the piece. Instead, he selected a prominent knoll along Buffalo Bayou, between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive, where the sculpture stands today.

Moore's Spindle series evolved from a visit he made to the Vatican in 1925. He was fascinated by Michelangelo's depiction of God creating man with the touching index fingers in the Sistine Chapel fresco. Describing his Large Spindle Piece, Moore said, "Sculpturally, it's two points just about to meet. This work is on the same theme, only the two fingers are going out, not in."

The Large Spindle Piece is a 12 foot tall cast bronze abstract sculpture mounted on a circular cast concrete base that is painted matte brown. Although this is a significant work of art, there is no plaque or sign near it that identifies the sculpture or the artist. Upon close inspection, the artist's signature and designation of the sculpture's number in the series ("4/6") can be seen near the base. A foundry mark of Hermann Noack of Berlin also appears on the lower edge, facing the Houston skyline. Unfortunately, as is the case with so many stunning pieces of art around the world, this sculpture has been marred by graffiti, a small amount of which is shown in the photo.

Henry Moore was born in 1868 in Yorkshire, England and died on August 31, 1986, at the age of 88, at his home in Hertfordshire. As is befitting such an important British sculptor, his body is interred in the Artist's Corner at St Paul's Cathedral in London. He had an interesting career in the arts, including a period during World War II when he was commissioned as a war artist, notably producing powerful drawings of Londoners sleeping in the London Underground while sheltering from the blitz. These drawings boosted Moore's international reputation, particularly in America.

However, Moore is best known for his abstract monumental bronze and carved marble sculptures which can be seen in many outdoor spaces around the world as public works of art. Occasionally, Moore created his large scale works using fiberglass, as in the Large Reclining Figure on display at Kew. The lightweight nature of fiberglass was especially suited to the production and transportation of a few of his larger works.

The panorama of the collection from the Art Gallery of Ontario shows the breadth of his monumental style.

Although Moore's works are exhibited in major cities around the world, including a current display at the New York Botanical Garden (May 24-November 2, 2008), Moore's iconic spindle on Buffalo Bayou is Houston's best kept art secret.