Statue of Minerva (Madrid)
Minerva | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Artist | |
Completion date | 24 January 1966 |
Medium | Bronze |
Dimensions | 7.50 m (24.6 ft) |
Weight | 3,000 kg |
Location | Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, Spain |
Minerva is a bronze statue in Madrid, Spain, installed on the rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes. It is a representation of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, arts and strategic warfare.
History and description[]
In 1964, the project for the statue—intending to fulfill the vision of the original architect Antonio Palacios for the top of the building—was awarded by the Círculo de Bellas Artes to .[1]
The sculptural ensemble, representing a standing figure of the goddess, features characteristic attributes associated to Pallas Athena, such as the helmet, shield, spear and owl.[1] Cast in bronze in Arganda del Rey by Eduardo Capa, a disciple of Vassallo,[2] it weighs 3 tonnes.[3]
Following a complicated effort to transport the extremely heavy statue up to the rooftop (involving the installation of a 8-metre high and 1-tonne iron girder in order to secure the structure of the building) codenamed "Operation Minerva", the statue was finally put on its pedestal on 24 January 1966.[4] It stands at about 58 metres above street level,[5] dominating over the intersection between the calle de Alcalá and the Gran Vía.[6]
References[]
- Citations
- ^ a b Vassallo Magro 2014, p. 174.
- ^ Vassallo Magro 2014, p. 175.
- ^ Carriazo, Inés; Vasco Campos, Aurora. "Visita a las azoteas de Madrid: cuando los tejados se convierten en las mejores terrazas". El Confidencial.
- ^ Vassallo Magro 2014, pp. 175–176.
- ^ Sardá, Juan (24 February 2018). "La Diosa Minerva que protege la ciudad desde las alturas". La Vanguardia.
- ^ Villalba, Enrique (22 July 2009). "Las 22 'atalayas' del centro de Madrid". Madrid.
- Bibliography
- Vassallo Magro, Marta (2014). Juan Luis Vassallo, vida y obra escultórica (PDF). Madrid: Complutense University of Madrid.
- Statues in Spain
- Outdoor sculptures in Madrid
- Bronze sculptures in Spain
- Calle de Alcalá
- Sculptures of Roman goddesses
- Minerva