Art by ZIP Code - Hermann Park and Houston Zoo

Houston Municipal Art

Atropos Key

Location: Top of the hill of Miller Outdoor Theatre
Number: 0015
Artist: Stewart, Hannah H.
Title: Atropos Key
Date: 1972, Dedicated August 24, 1972
Type: Sculpture
Medium: Sculpture: Cast Bronze, Base: Concrete and black slate
Dimensions: Sculpture: 129” x 79” x 11 1/8” Base: 25 ½” x 119” x 60”
Location/Environment: Hermann Park, at top of hill of Miller Theatre, Outdoors
Provenance: Given to the City of Houston by Patricia S. Woodward

Historical Background
Atropos Key refers to the Greek Goddess of Fate, Atropos, (the cutter of the thread of life). According to Greek mythology, Atropos, and her sisters Clotho (the spinner of the thread of destiny) and Lachesis (the measurer of the thread) were responsible for human destiny.

Physical Description
Atropos Key is a polished, tooled-surface, cast-bronze sculpture mounted on a concrete trapezoidal base faced with black slate. The artist's name is placed on one of the vertical legs (H. STEWART). The edition number and title appear on the horizontal edge of the self base (1/3 ATROPOS KEY).

The bronze plaque located on the metal base plate of the sculpture reads as follows:

ATROPOS KEY/ SCULPTOR/ HANNAH STEWART/ DONOR/ PATRICIA S. WOODWARD/ GIVEN TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON/ AUGUST 24, 1972

Restoration / Conservation
Atropos Key was restored and reinstalled on February 25, 2009.

Atropos Key Restoration

Photo by Reginald Burns

Houston Arts Alliance coordinated the removal, conservation, and re-installation of the cast bronze sculpture Atropos Key over the winter in conjunction with reconstruction of the Miller Outdoor Theatre amphitheatre. The work by Hannah Stewart presided over the Theatre seating area for almost 30 years. The sculpture was removed from its base, professionally cleaned and restored and re-installed on February 25, 2009.

Also refurbished was the bronze's green patina and bronze identification plaque. The sculpture's base was faced with black granite, as was Ms. Stewart's original design. The sculpture was donated to the City by Patricia S. Woodard.

The sculpture's title may be a reference to one of the three Goddesses of Fate. Atropos cut the thread of life. Her sister Clotho spun the thread of destiny and Lachesis measured it. Daughters of Zeus, the Fates were responsible for human destiny.

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