Statue of Minerva (Madrid)

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Minerva
Azotea - Círculo de Bellas Artes - Madrid.jpg
Artist [es]
Completion date24 January 1966
MediumBronze
Dimensions7.50 m (24.6 ft)
Weight3,000 kg
LocationCírculo 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  [es].[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
  1. ^ a b Vassallo Magro 2014, p. 174.
  2. ^ Vassallo Magro 2014, p. 175.
  3. ^ Carriazo, Inés; Vasco Campos, Aurora. "Visita a las azoteas de Madrid: cuando los tejados se convierten en las mejores terrazas". El Confidencial.
  4. ^ Vassallo Magro 2014, pp. 175–176.
  5. ^ Sardá, Juan (24 February 2018). "La Diosa Minerva que protege la ciudad desde las alturas". La Vanguardia.
  6. ^ Villalba, Enrique (22 July 2009). "Las 22 'atalayas' del centro de Madrid". Madrid.
Bibliography
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