AMSTERDAM.- A giant crane lifted Henry Moore’s Large Reclining Figure 1983 into position in the Rijksmuseum gardens earlier today.

The sculpture arrived from the Henry Moore Foundation in Perry Green by special transport. The large-scale reclining figure, made of white fibreglass, is over nine metres long and weighs 2,000 kilos. The sculpture will be positioned in the Rijksmuseum gardens and its angular shapes offer a spectacular contrast to the 19th-century museum building, the museum’s permanent classical sculpture collection and the gardens themselves.

Director Wim Pijbes: ‘The Henry Moore exhibition is launching an exciting new programme of outdoor exhibitions. Every summer, our new gardens will provide the setting for an international sculpture exhibition’.

The exhibition of 14 works by the celebrated British sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1986) will open the newly refurbished gardens of the Rijksmuseum on 22 June. 12 works will be positioned outside and 2 in the museum. The refurbished gardens are freely accessible to the public. New features include a spacious sun terrace on the Museumplein side of the gardens, an 18th-century gazebo and a 19th-century glasshouse with ‘historic’ vegetables.

Henry Moore's sculptures are on show in the Rijksmuseum gardens until 29 September. The exhibitions are made possible by the BankGiro Lottery and ananonymous donor.