Monument to Galdós (Madrid) facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 40°24′43″N 3°40′49″W / 40.412069°N 3.680151°W |
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| Location | El Retiro, Madrid, Spain |
| Designer | Victorio Macho |
| Material | Granite |
| Opening date | 20 January 1919 |
| Dedicated to | Benito Pérez Galdós |
The Monument to Galdós is a famous sculpture found in Madrid, Spain. It honors a very important Spanish writer named Benito Pérez Galdós. The monument was created by the artist Victorio Macho. You can find it in the southern part of El Retiro Park.
Building the Galdós Monument
The idea for this monument came from friends and fans of the writer. People like the Quintero brothers, José Francés, and Emiliano Ramírez Ángel started the project. In 1918, they asked Victorio Macho to design the sculpture. Macho had already studied Galdós's face before.
The money for the monument came from many people. Regular citizens donated to help pay for the materials. The sculpture is made from granite, a very strong stone.
What the Sculpture Shows
The sculpture shows Galdós as an older man. He is sitting in a large armchair. The arms of the chair are shaped like lions. Galdós's legs are covered by a blanket. This part of the statue shows him near the end of his life.
The Unveiling Day
The monument was officially revealed on January 20, 1919. It was a very special and emotional event. Galdós himself was there to see it. Many important people attended, including Tomás Borrás Bermejo and Ramón Pérez de Ayala.
Galdós was quite old and not well at the time. He was almost completely blind. He felt the statue with his fingers. He then told the artist, Victorio Macho, "Magnificent, my friend Macho. And he looks so much like me!" Galdós passed away less than a year later.
This important work made Victorio Macho famous. It helped start his successful career as an artist.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a Galdós en el Retiro para niños
