Museo Novecento Firenze seeks memories of Henry Moore's 1972 Forte Belvedere show

The Museo Novecento in Florence has launched an open call for memories and memorabilia from Henry Moore's 1972 exhibition at Forte Belvedere, which drew over 345,000 visitors. The initiative coincides with the museum's current show "Henry Moore: Il disegno dello scultore," running until July 18, 2021 but temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Participants can submit scanned photos, postcards, catalogs, or other objects via email, along with their name and social media handles. Submissions will be shared on the museum's Facebook and Instagram during the exhibition and compiled into a book to be published in 2022, the 50th anniversary of the original show. Notable attendees of the 1972 opening included Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon, Italian President Giovanni Leone, British Prime Minister Edward Heath, and Moore himself, who oversaw the installation of his monumental sculptures on the terraces overlooking Florence. Museum director Sergio Risaliti explained the dual purpose: to connect with the public unable to visit physically and to create a bridge between generations who experienced the 1972 show and younger audiences discovering Moore's drawings of bones, skulls, trees, and animals.