Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi
The Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi is an equestrian statue honoring Giuseppe Garibaldi, located in Plaza Italia in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Garibaldi was an Italian military leader and politician known as the “Hero of the Two Worlds” for his campaigns in South America and Europe. The monument was donated by the Italian community and created by the Italian sculptor Eugenio Maccagnani, based on the monument in Brescia, Italy. It was inaugurated on 19 June 1904.
May 2013 © Gobierno de la CABA · CC BY 2.5 ar
September 2013 © Kaled Naya · CC BY-SA 3.0
October 1994 © LBM1948 · CC BY-SA 4.0
2006 © Paranaense81 · Public domain
May 2016 © Profeperfetti · CC BY-SA 4.0
Identification | |
| Title | Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi |
| Type | Equestrian monument |
| Subject | Giuseppe Garibaldi |
| Honoree | Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian independence fighter |
| Original title | Monumento a Giuseppe Garibaldi |
Historical context | |
| Subject occupation | Italian military and political leader |
| Subject life dates | 1807–1882 |
| Subject historical role | Joined the Carbonari as a young man, fled Italy after a failed insurrection, participated in the Ragamuffin War and contributed to the independence of Uruguay, served as commander during the Risorgimento, and led the Italian Legion in the Uruguayan Civil War |
| Epithet | Hero of the Two Worlds, referring to his military expeditions in South America and Europe |
Creator | |
| Sculptor | Eugenio Maccagnani |
| Sculptor nationality | Italian |
Discovery and provenance | |
| Inaugurated by | President Julio Argentino Roca and Bartolomé Mitre |
| Based on | Maccagnani's monument in Brescia, Italy |
| Sculptor present at inauguration | Yes |
| Attendees at inauguration | President Julio Argentino Roca; Bartolomé Mitre; Mayor Alberto Casares; committee president Tomás Ambrosetti; representatives of Uruguay, France, and Italy |
| Inauguration date | 19 June 1904 |
| Authorized location | Parque 3 de Febrero |
| Authorization | National Law No. 3514, approved 21 September 1897 |
| Donor | Italian community in Argentina |
| Foundation stone laid | 3 November 1898 |
Materials | |
| Figure material | Bronze |
| Pedestal material | Baveno granite |
Physical characteristics | |
| Height | 15.50 m total; equestrian statue 5.70 m; allegorical figures 3.50 m; pedestal 9 m |
| Weight | 600 tons |
Appearance | |
| Pedestal reliefs | Two reliefs commemorating the Battle of San Antonio de Salto in Uruguay and the Expedition of Quarto in Genoa |
| Inscriptions | Latin inscriptions describing Garibaldi's qualities and the donation by Italians to Argentina |
| Symbolic motifs | Fasces, votive bronze flames, laurel wreaths, oves, and triglyphs |
| Liberty figure | Depicted with a Phrygian cap and holding a broken chain |
| Victory figure | Depicted with her head surrounded by laurels, with a shield and helmet on her left knee |
| Additional figures | Two allegorical figures at mid-height on the pedestal |
| Main figure | Garibaldi is shown in civilian dress with a scarf around his neck, mounted on horseback and pulling the reins tightly |
Iconography and meaning | |
| Symbolism | Hybrid symbolism emphasizing the connections between Italy and Argentina |
Location and ownership | |
| Location | Plaza Italia, Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| City | Buenos Aires |
| Neighborhood | Palermo |
| Country | Argentina |
| Donation note | Donated by Italians to Argentina |