Monument to Mendizábal (Madrid) facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 40°24′45″N 3°42′15″W / 40.412368°N 3.704239°W |
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| Location | Plaza del Progreso, Madrid, Spain |
| Designer | José Gragera |
| Material | Bronze, stone |
| Opening date | 6 June 1869 |
| Dedicated to | Juan Álvarez Mendizábal |
| Dismantled date | 1939 |
The Mendizábal monument was a special statue in Madrid, Spain. It stood in a place called the Plaza del Progreso, which is now known as Plaza de Tirso de Molina. This monument had a bronze statue of Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, who was an important Spanish politician. He helped make big changes in Spain during the 1830s. The statue also had a stone base. Sadly, the monument was taken down in 1939.
Contents
Building the Mendizábal Monument
The monument was designed by an artist named José Gragera. It was ordered after Mendizábal passed away in 1853. The statue was made from bronze in Paris, France, by a company called Eck & Durand.
The bronze statue arrived in Madrid in 1857. It took some time to decide where to put the monument. Finally, in 1868, work began to set it up in the Plaza del Progreso.
Unveiling the Statue
The monument was officially shown to the public on June 6, 1869. A special event was held for this. Important people like General Serrano attended. Mendizábal's young grandson was also there.
The statue showed the politician wearing a long coat, pants, and a vest. His left hand was placed inside his waistcoat. The base of the statue was a simple stone block. It did not have Mendizábal's name on it until 1904.
What Happened to the Monument?
The monument stood in Madrid for many years. However, things changed at the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939. When the Francoist troops entered Madrid, the monument was pulled down.
It is believed that the bronze from the statue might have been melted down. This bronze could have been used to create another monument. The Plaza del Progreso was later renamed "Plaza de Tirso de Molina." In 1943, a new statue of the writer Tirso de Molina was placed there.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a Mendizábal (Madrid) para niños
