Artworks by St Ives artist Barbara Hepworth are among a host of sculptures across England that have been newly listed.
The 41 pieces include three sculptures by Hepworth, a Henry Moore artwork outside the Houses of Parliament and others depicting themes ranging from the power of electricity to the women’s peace movement in Northern Ireland. Many were designed to breathe life back into the country’s public spaces in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Most of the sculptures have been listed at Grade II or Grade II* by the Government, on the advice of Historic England.
Hepworth acquired Trewyn Studio in the centre of St Ives in September 1949 and immediately began working there; she also lived there permanently from December 1950 until her death in 1975.
The three works by Hepworth include her Winged Figure, sited on the side of the John Lewis shop in London’s Oxford Street, which has been listed at Grade II*. She said at the time that she designed it to make people feel “airborne in rain and sunlight”. Her Single Form (Memorial) in Battersea Park, London, have been given Grade II* status, with Rosewall (Curved Reclining Form) in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, given Grade II listing.
Also listed is Untitled (Listening), the first sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley to be listed. Installed in Camden, London, and created in 1983-84, it was one of his earliest public sculpture commissions and marked the beginning of a career dedicated to creating pieces for the public.
Roger Bowdler, director of listing at Historic England, said: “These sculptures were commissioned and created for everybody and have become a precious national collection of art which we can all share. They enrich our lives, bring art to everyone and deserve celebration.
“We have worked with the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association, Tate, and the Twentieth Century Society throughout this project to ensure our most special public art is protected and continues to enhance our public spaces.”
Four of the newly-listed works are in Harlow, known as the “sculpture town”.
These include Wild Boar by Elisabeth Frink and a play sculpture of a bronze donkey by Willi Soukop, designed to help children interact with art, which is now worn to a shine from years of use.
The newly-listed pieces were created in the decades after the Second World War as England slowly began to repair its shattered towns and cities.
Capturing the public mood of the time and designed to humanise streets, housing estates and workplaces, they depict themes celebrating industry in northern England such as mining and wool and the importance of family and play. Some also commemorate children killed in the Blitz.
Through national exhibitions such as the 1951 Festival of Britain, public sculpture became an emblem of renewal, optimism and progress.
But some were unpopular at the time, seen as too unsettling or too avant-garde, and only now are starting to be more widely appreciated.
Heritage Minister Tracey Crouch said: “It is only right that these fantastic pieces are listed. Not only are they magnificent sculptures, but they are also an important part of our history, capturing the mood of Britain after the Second World War.”
Their stories will be told in an exhibition at Somerset House in London, running from February 3 to April 10.