Monument to Romanones (Guadalajara)

The Monument to Romanones is an instance of public art in Guadalajara, Spain. Designed by Miquel Blay, it consists of a bronze bust of Álvaro Figueroa Torres put on top of a pedestal, with other sculptural items around.

Romanones
Coordinates40.630665°N 3.164493°W / 40.630665; -3.164493
LocationPlaza de Santo Domingo, Guadalajara, Spain
DesignerMiquel Blay
MaterialBronze, stone
Opening date16 October 1913
Dedicated toCount of Romanones

History and description

The monument was an initiative of the teachers' associations in the province of Guadalajara, in appreciation for the 1901 Royal Decree promoted by Romanones which made possible the inclusion of the teachers' salaries and other expenses within the State's budget.[1] The design was awarded to Miquel Blay.[1]

The monument was unveiled on 16 October 1913,[2][3][4] during a ceremony in which Joaquín Ruiz Jiménez (Minister of Public Instruction), the Mayor of Guadalajara and Eduardo Vincenti (Mayor of Madrid), intervened as speakers,[5] also attended by the likes of Ángel Galarza (Director of the Geographic Institute) and Fernando Weyler (Under-Secretary of Public Instruction).[3][4]

It was erected when Romanones was still alive, in Guadalajara, the electoral district where Romanones had built his strongest political client networks.[6]

Besides the bronze bust of Romanones topping off the monument, the sculptural ensemble also displays a teacher (Wisdom) and a student (Learning).[7] The latter is depicted collecting the 1901 royal decree from the hands of Romanones.[7]

When commented about the inauguration, Romanones (serving as prime minister at the time) reportedly threatened with removing his statue stating as follows: "Well then, I will go there with my guards one morning and I will remove it. I think the effigy already belongs to me, just as a photograph belongs to the person being photographed".[8]

The monument underwent a restoration in 2013, consisting of its cleaning as well as the sealing of cracks and holes in the bronze pieces.[9]

References
  1. "Guadalajara restaura el conjunto escultórico del Conde de Romanones". El Digital CLM. 29 May 2013.
  2. "Monumento al Conde de Romanones". La Ilustración Artística. Barcelona. XXXII (1661): 706. 27 October 1913. ISSN 1889-853X.
  3. "El monumento á Romanones". La Mañana. Madrid. V (1405): 4. 17 October 1913. ISSN 2171-7346.
  4. "El monumento á Romanones". La Época. Madrid. LXV (22619). 16 October 1913. ISSN 2254-559X.
  5. "La Estatua de Romanones". Las Ocurrencias. Semanario Ilustrado. III (129): 2. 24 October 1913. ISSN 2444-6718.
  6. Vilallonga, Borja (2008). "Mecenazgo político y estatuaria monumental: Miquel Blay y su obra en Panamá" (PDF). Diálogos Revista Electrónica de Historia. Universidad de Costa Rica: 2170. ISSN 1409-469X.
  7. Clemente, Elena (28 May 2013). "La estatua del Conde de Romanones, a salvo". Cultura en Guada.
  8. "Información política". Heraldo de Madrid. XXIV (8355). 16 October 1913. ISSN 2171-0090.
  9. "El Ayuntamiento restaura la escultura del conde de Romanones". ABC. 29 May 2013.
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