Monument to Primo de Rivera (Jerez)
The monument to Primo de Rivera is an instance of public art in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It consists of a bronze equestrian statue of Miguel Primo de Rivera, on top of a sculptural ensemble placed inside a fountain. It lies at the centre of the Plaza del Arenal.
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| 36.68153°N 6.137933°W | |
| Location | Jerez de la Frontera, Spain |
|---|---|
| Designer | Mariano Benlliure |
| Material | Bronze, stone |
| Opening date | 29 September 1929 |
| Dedicated to | Miguel Primo de Rivera |
History and description
The monument was proposed in December 1923 by municipal councillor Antonio Montilla Rivero after the September 1923 coup d'etat, and the proposal was unanimously accepted.[1][2] The managing committee of the monument was appointed in 1925.[2] The monument was funded via popular subscription.[2] The design of the monument was awarded to Mariano Benlliure.[2]
Building works started on 2 October 1928.[2] Benlliure reportedly used a horse from the regiment of Hussars of La Princesa as model for the equine figure.[3] The front side of the pedestal features a coat of arms of Spain and an inscription reading: "al ilustre jerezano, restaurador del orden, miguel primo de Rivera y orbaneja, pacificador de marruecos y marqués de estella. la patria agradecida." ("to the illustrious jerezano, restorer of order, Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, Peacemaker of Morocco and Marquis of Estella. The grateful homeland").[2]
A winged Victory emerges ahead of the front side of the pedestal, grabbing a laurel branch with her right hand and a Pickelhaube general's helmet with her left arm.[4][2] Both lateral sides of the pedestal feature sculptural compositions.[5] The right-hand one, with the "estudiando el definitivo plan de avance" inscription ("studying the ultimate breakthrough plan"), consists of a meeting of generals around Primo de Rivera, also attended by Sanjurjo, Despujols, Fernández Pérez, Saro and Admiral Guerra.[2] The left-hand side of the pedestal features an sculptural ensemble with five moors working the land with two oxen, reading "el punto de la victoria" ("the point of victory").[2]
The backside of the monument incorporates an allegory of Peace or Plentifulness, holding cereal spikes, with two cornucopias at her feet,[4] as well as a bronze relief consisting of an effigy of Miguel's brother Fernando—fallen in Monte Arruit in 1921—put inside a medallion bordered by laurel wreaths, with an inscription below reading "honrando a sus héroes" ("honoring its heroes").[6]
It was unveiled on 29 September 1929, during a ceremony attended by the dictator himself.[5]
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Lateral side, featuring the meeting of generals
Closer view of the monument featuring the winged victory
References
- Citations
- "La historia olvidada del Arenal". Diario de Jerez. 12 March 2017.
- "Los grandiosos homenajes celerados en honor del Presidente y del Vicepresidente del Gobierno, en Jerez y Barcelona, respectivamente". La Nación. Madrid: 3. 30 September 1929. ISSN 1132-046X.
- Reyero 2013, p. 109.
- Sánchez Villanueva 2015, p. 237.
- "El escenario más jerezano al que llamaron Arenal". La Voz de Cádiz. 23 March 2008.
- Bravo Nieto 2013, p. 112.
- Bibliography
- Bravo Nieto, Antonio (2013). "1921. Los Cazadores de Alcántara y la memoria reflejada: un capítulo de la escultura pública y monumental española" (PDF). Que las cifras hablen. Historia de la laureada del Alcántara. Melilla: UNED. pp. 101–128. ISBN 978-84-937147-4-1.
- Reyero, Carlos (2013). "Benlliure monumental". Mariano Benlliure. El dominio de la materia (PDF). pp. 91–111. ISBN 978-84-451-3458-0.
- Sánchez Villanueva, Juan Luis (2015). "Guía mitológica de Jerez de la Frontera o la presencia de Júpiter ausente" (PDF). Actas del XVIII Coloquio de Historia de la Educación: Arte, literatura y educación. Vol. 2. pp. 231–239. ISBN 978-84-943286-6-4 – via Dialnet.