Large Interior Form

Where the reflection pond used to sit on the Coates Esplanade now stands a 16-foot-tall bronze sculpture, “Large Interior Form.” Arthur and Jane Stieren donated the statue to Trinity in 1983, one of many sculptures by Henry Moore, an artist known for exploring the mystery of the link between the human form and the three-dimensional environment.

Though the vague nature of the sculpture confuses some, it is officially known as an improvisational depiction of a woman’s femininity. Over the years, students have affectionately nicknamed it “Mom” and the “Pregnant Lady.”

“Large Interior Form” is placed so that it is perfectly framed in the Coates Center breezeway when you look through from Northrup Hall. When considering where to place the sculpture, the Stierens chose the Esplanade because the work would be set against the sky.

“There is no background to sculpture better than the sky, because you are contrasting solid form with its opposite–space. The sculpture then has no competition, no distraction from other solid objects. If I wanted the most foolproof background for a sculpture, I would always choose the sky.” - Henry Moore, “Large Interior Form” artist