Henry Moore Bound to Fail (Back View)
- Date
- 1967–70
- Material
- Iron
- (not assigned)
- North and Central America
- Classification
- Metalwork, sculpture
- Collection
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 25 3/4 x 23 x 3 in. (65.4 x 58.4 x 7.6 cm)
weight: 174 lb. (78.9 kg) - Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Greenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenberg, and Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Greenberg
- Rights
- © Bruce Nauman / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, NY
- Object Number
- 122:1974
NOTES
Bruce Nauman based this work on a photograph he took of himself, arms bound behind his back while wearing a loose-fitting sweater. The title, Henry Moore Bound to Fail (Back View) references the influential English sculptor. When speaking about this sculpture, Nauman noted that a younger generation of artists was discounting the elder Moore’s work, but he suggested that “they shouldn’t be so hard on him, because they’re going to need him.”
Provenance
by 1971
Leo Castelli, New York, NY
- 1971
Helman Gallery, St. Louis [1]
1971 - 1974
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Greenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenberg, and Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Greenberg, St. Louis, MO, acquired from the Helman Gallery, St. Louis.
1974 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Lawrence Greenberg, Sandra M. Greenberg, Robert G. Greenberg, Maureen Greenberg, Ronald K. Greenberg, and Jan Greenberg [2]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is an e-mail dated November 25, 2007 from Courtney E. Flynn of the Greenberg Van Doren Gallery. According to Ms. Flynn, her provenance information is based on a meeting with Ronald K. Greenberg [SLAM document files].
[1] According to the catalogue raisonné, Joseph Helman commissioned all of the iron editions and the Helman Gallery, St. Louis acted as a dealer for 122:1974 [Benezra, Neal and Kathy Halbreich. 1994. "Bruce Nauman," Joan Simon, editor. Minneapolis: Walker Art Center. Cat. no. 181, p. 246]
[2] Letter from SLAM Director Charles E. Buckley to Ronald Greenberg, December 20, 1974 [SLAM document file] and the Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Saint Louis Art Museum, December 19, 1974.
Leo Castelli, New York, NY
- 1971
Helman Gallery, St. Louis [1]
1971 - 1974
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Greenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenberg, and Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Greenberg, St. Louis, MO, acquired from the Helman Gallery, St. Louis.
1974 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Lawrence Greenberg, Sandra M. Greenberg, Robert G. Greenberg, Maureen Greenberg, Ronald K. Greenberg, and Jan Greenberg [2]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is an e-mail dated November 25, 2007 from Courtney E. Flynn of the Greenberg Van Doren Gallery. According to Ms. Flynn, her provenance information is based on a meeting with Ronald K. Greenberg [SLAM document files].
[1] According to the catalogue raisonné, Joseph Helman commissioned all of the iron editions and the Helman Gallery, St. Louis acted as a dealer for 122:1974 [Benezra, Neal and Kathy Halbreich. 1994. "Bruce Nauman," Joan Simon, editor. Minneapolis: Walker Art Center. Cat. no. 181, p. 246]
[2] Letter from SLAM Director Charles E. Buckley to Ronald Greenberg, December 20, 1974 [SLAM document file] and the Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Saint Louis Art Museum, December 19, 1974.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.