Falling Warrior Sculpture In Clare College Memorial Court

The Falling Warrior is a memorial sculpture located in Clare College Memorial Court, created by Henry Moore between 1956 and 1957 and installed here in 1961. This bronze sculpture measures nearly five feet in length and is mounted on a bronze plinth. It depicts a semi-recumbent effigy of a male figure at the dramatic moment of death, collapsing onto his shield, and is intentionally under life-size. Sculptures that portray the male form and movement are quite rare in Moore's body of work, making this piece notable for its contrast with his typically stoic, monolithic female figures. The sculpture exemplifies the humanistic strain in Moore's art, and its dynamic form complements the restrained architectural setting of Giles Gilbert Scott's First World War Memorial Court, which is also listed.