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Monument to the Cart

Monument to the Cart is a historic sculpture in Montevideo, Uruguay, created by José Belloni and inaugurated on October 14, 1934. It is located in Parque José Batlle y Ordónez, at its current site on Av. Dr. Lorenzo Mérola. Made of bronze on a pink granite base, the work is 22 meters long and weighs 150 tons. The composition includes a cart, three yokes of oxen pulling it, two oxen at the rear, and a gaucho on horseback with a picana. Set on a grassy slope above a pond with paja brava, the sculpture reflects gauchos, rural life, and old freight transport before the arrival of cars and railways.

Monument to the Cart sculpture showing a covered cart pulled by oxen with a rider on horseback nearby.
The Monument to the Cart in Montevideo shows a covered cart pulled by oxen beneath a bright sky.
© · CC BY 2.5
The Monument to the Cart, a bronze sculpture of a covered cart pulled by oxen with a rider on horseback nearby, reflected in a pond.
The Monument to the Cart rises on a grassy hill, with its reflection mirrored in the pond below.
September 2013 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Monument to the Cart bronze sculpture showing a covered wagon, a man on horseback, and a long line of oxen beside a reflective pond.
The Monument to the Cart shown in a grassy setting with its wagon, rider, and oxen reflected in the water.
© · CC BY 3.0
Bronze Monument to the Cart showing oxen pulling a cart with a gaucho on horseback behind it.
The Monument to the Cart depicts oxen pulling a rustic cart, with a horseman following behind on the grassy hill.
August 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Children and an older man stand in the foreground with the Monument to the Cart on a grassy slope behind them.
Children pose in front of the Monument to the Cart on a grassy hillside.
October 1962 · Public domain

Identification

TitleMonument to the Cart
Typehistorical artwork / sculpture monument
Original titleLa Carreta

Creator

ArtistJosé Belloni

Historical context

AwardProduction Art Award of the Ministry of Public Instruction (1919)
Inauguration date14 October 1934

Discovery and provenance

Reason casting was done in ItalyThere was no foundry in Uruguay with sufficient capacity to do the work
Transfer to MontevideoThe transfer was organized through the mediation of the Uruguayan consul in Italy, G.A. Fraschetti Ruiz
Temporary exhibition in FlorenceThe work was exhibited for 30 days at the Palace of Expositions in Florence
Mussolini's involvementBenito Mussolini visited the exhibition, bought several of the exhibited works, and tried to keep the sculpture in Italy
Exhibited works in FlorenceBelloni exhibited four bronze works
Diplomatic support in ItalyThe Uruguayan consul in Italy offered Belloni an exhibition to help cover his expenses
Mussolini's attempted purchaseHe summoned Belloni and offered to buy the work for any price and commission other works
Time needed for enlargement and castingAbout one year
Artist's travel to ItalyIn 1929, José Belloni traveled to Italy with his family (wife and son) and the 1/3-scale maquette
Model used for castingA 1/3-scale maquette of La Carreta
Government acquisitionThe Uruguayan government acquired the sculptural ensemble in 1928 and had it cast in bronze

Materials

Base materialPink granite
Main materialBronze

Technique

Casting supervisionDirected by José Belloni
Casting date1930
Casting locationFondería Artística Ferdinando Marinelli, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Location and ownership

Current locationJosé Batlle y Ordóñez Park, on Av. Dr. Lorenzo Mérola, Montevideo, Uruguay
Inauguration placeMontevideo, Uruguay
SettingPlaced at the top of a grassy slope overlooking a pond where paja brava grows

Physical characteristics

Weight150 tons
Length22 meters

Appearance

Depicted subjectA cart pulled by three yokes of oxen, with two oxen at the rear
Additional figureA gaucho on horseback on the right side of the vehicle, in front of the rear oxen, holding a picana

Iconography and meaning

InspirationGauchos, rural life, and old cargo transport used before the arrival of the automobile and the railway
Historical meaningRepresents transport from before automobiles and railroads

History and restoration

Heritage designationDeclared a National Historic Monument by Executive Power Resolution No. 1170/76, published on 15 September 1976, at the proposal of the Commission for the Historical, Artistic and Cultural Heritage of the Nation
Restoration and reinaugurationReinaugurated in 2011 after restoration prompted by the Belloni family and the Municipality of Montevideo; the monument was restored to its original state
Cause of deteriorationVandalism, including theft attempts of bronze, and damage caused by malice or ignorance of the need to care for the work
Restoration artistsJosé Alberto Belloni, Yanet Chango Bruzzone, the Fernández brothers, and Miguel Laborde
Restoration rolesJosé Alberto Belloni and Yanet Chango Bruzzone were sculptors; the Fernández brothers were molders; Miguel Laborde was the foundryman

Other

Current classificationMonument of Montevideo; sculpture of Uruguay; located in Parque Batlle