Fuente del Ángel Caído facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fuente del Ángel Caído |
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| Artist | Ricardo Bellver (statue) Francisco Jareño (pedestal) |
| Medium | Bronze, stone |
| Location | Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain |
The Fuente del Ángel Caído (which means Fountain of the Fallen Angel) is a famous fountain you can find in the beautiful Buen Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain.
This amazing monument features a statue that tells a powerful story. It's known for being one of the few public sculptures in the world dedicated to the devil.
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The Story of the Fallen Angel Statue
The main statue on top of the fountain is a true masterpiece. It was created by an artist named Ricardo Bellver. He made the first version out of plaster in 1877.
Bellver was inspired by a famous poem called Paradise Lost by John Milton. This poem tells the story of an angel who falls from heaven.
From Plaster to Bronze
Bellver's plaster statue was very popular. It even won first prize at an art show in Spain in 1877. The Spanish government bought the artwork.
Later, the statue was sent to a big world fair in Paris in 1878. For the fair, artworks had to be made of marble or bronze. So, Bellver's statue was cast into bronze. Sadly, the original plaster version was destroyed during this process.
Finding a Home in Retiro Park
After the fair, the bronze statue came back to Spain. It was first kept in a museum. But the museum's director thought it was too special to be hidden away. He wanted everyone to see it.
So, the statue was given to the city of Madrid. They decided to place it in Retiro Park. This spot used to be a porcelain factory that was destroyed during a war in 1813.
A duke helped pay for the monument. An architect named Francisco Jareño designed the base for the statue.
The Fountain's Design
The pedestal (base) of the fountain is shaped like an octagon. It has figures of devils on each side. These devils are shown holding different creatures like fish, lizards, and snakes.
The statue and its base stand in the middle of a large fountain. The fountain itself is about 10 meters (about 33 feet) wide. It is surrounded by a lovely garden area.
The Fuente del Ángel Caído was officially opened in 1885. The Queen of Spain, Maria Christina of Austria, was there for the inauguration.
A Unique Location
The entire monument is about 7 meters (about 23 feet) tall. The statue itself is 2.65 meters (about 8.7 feet) high. It sits in the center of a roundabout in the park. This roundabout is even named after the statue!
A cool fact about the fountain is its height above sea level. It is said to be exactly 666 meters (about 2,185 feet) above sea level. This number is often linked to the devil in some stories.
A Famous Madrid Landmark
When it was first made, some people had different opinions about the statue. But most art critics really liked it. Today, it is a very popular attraction in Madrid.
People love its dramatic look and the strong feelings it shows. It's also famous because it's one of the only big sculptures in the world that focuses on the devil.
If you want to see more details of Bellver's work, there's a copy of the statue. It's made of polyester resin and is kept at the Museum of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid.
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A close-up view of the statue, showing its details.
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The base of the fountain with its interesting sculptures of demons and other creatures.
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A wider view of the entire fountain in Retiro Park.
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See also
In Spanish: Fuente del Ángel Caído para niños
