Statue of Velázquez (Madrid) facts for kids
 |
|
| Coordinates | 40°24′49″N 3°41′34″W / 40.413736°N 3.692689°W |
|---|---|
| Location | Paseo del Prado, Madrid, Spain |
| Designer | Aniceto Marinas (statue) Vicente Lampérez (pedestal) |
| Material | Bronze, stone |
| Height | 3.5 m |
| Opening date | 14 June 1899 |
| Dedicated to | Diego de Velázquez |
The Statue of Velázquez is a famous piece of public art in Madrid, Spain. It stands right in front of the main entrance of the Prado Museum. This statue honors Diego de Velázquez, one of Spain's most famous painters.
Contents
What is the Velázquez Statue?
The idea for this statue came from the Círculo de Bellas Artes, a group focused on fine arts. The statue was made to celebrate the amazing artist Diego de Velázquez.
How Was the Statue Made?
The statue was cast, or shaped, at a special factory called Masriera & Campins' foundry in Barcelona. It was made from bronze, a metal that was given by the Spanish government.
The artist who designed the statue was Aniceto Marinas. He created Velázquez sitting down, holding his painting palette and a brush. Velázquez's hand in the statue looks just like his own hand in his famous painting, Las Meninas.
What About the Pedestal?
The statue stands on a strong base called a pedestal. This pedestal is about 1.90 meters (over 6 feet) tall. It was designed by Vicente Lampérez and paid for by the Society of Architects.
The pedestal is a cube made of white stone from Monóvar. On the front, you can see the name "Velázquez" with a star above it. The sides show the years '1599' and '1660', which are the years Velázquez was born and when he died. The back of the pedestal says that Spanish artists created the monument in 1899, thanks to the Círculo de Bellas Artes.
When Was the Statue Unveiled?
The Velázquez monument was officially shown to the public on June 14, 1899. This special event was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of the painter's birth.
Many important people attended the ceremony. This included the royal family, like Queen Regent Maria Christina and King Alfonso XIII. Government ministers and famous artists like Mariano Benlliure were also there. Some well-known painters from France and the president of the British Royal Academy even gave speeches.
See also
- In Spanish: Monumento a Velázquez (Madrid) para niños
