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Monument to King Alfonso XII

The Monument to King Alfonso XII stands in Buen Retiro Park, Madrid, on the east edge of the park’s artificial lake. Initiated in 1902 through a national design contest, it was conceived by architect José Grases Riera and completed after his death by Teodoro Anasagasti, with more than twenty sculptors contributing. Financed by public subscription, it was inaugurated on June 6, 1922. The monument is 30 meters high, 86 meters long, and 58 meters wide. Its center features Benlliure’s bronze equestrian statue of Alfonso XII, surrounded by allegorical figures and reliefs by artists including Miquel Blay, Aniceto Marinas, Miguel Ángel Trilles, and others. Stairs descend toward the lake, flanked by carved lions and bronze mermaids.

Alfonso XII Monument with a dark equestrian statue atop a multi-tiered marble base under a blue sky.
The Alfonso XII Monument rises in layered marble tiers, crowned by a dark equestrian statue.
August 2024 © · CC0
Alfonso XII Monument with a central column and equestrian statue, surrounded by a colonnade beside the lake
The Alfonso XII Monument rises beside the lake in Madrid’s Retiro Park, with its central equestrian statue and colonnade visible.
August 2008 © · CC BY-SA 3.0 es
The Alfonso XII Monument with a central equestrian statue, flanked by curved colonnades beside a lake with rowboats.
The Alfonso XII Monument rises beside the lake, with its central equestrian statue and sweeping colonnades visible in the foreground.
April 2006 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Alfonso XII Monument rises across a lake, with an equestrian statue atop the monument and colonnades on the far shore.
The Alfonso XII Monument stands across the water, seen from a shaded path with boats on the lake.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Alfonso XII Monument lit up at night beside a calm lake, with its colonnade and equestrian statue reflected in the water.
The illuminated Alfonso XII Monument reflected in the still waters of the lake at night.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleMonument to Alfonso XII
Alternate titleMonument to the Spanish Homeland personified in King Alfonso XII
Typearchitectural and sculptural ensemble
Alternate titleMonument to King Alfonso XII

Historical context

Commission date1902
Commission purposeTo build a monument to King Alfonso XII
Design competitionNational competition held in 1902
Commissioned byQueen Mother Maria Christina of Austria
PurposeCommemorates Alfonso XII of Spain
SubjectKing Alfonso XII
Periodearly 20th century

Creator

Winning designerJosé Grases Riera
Project continued byTeodoro Anasagasti
Project status at designer's deathWork was still in progress

History and restoration

Modification of original designAnasagasti introduced no modifications

Discovery and provenance

FundingFinanced by public subscription
Number of sculptors involvedMore than twenty sculptors
Inauguration date6 June 1922

Location and ownership

LocationBuen Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain
Specific siteNear the center of the park, on the east side of the artificial Retiro Pond

Physical characteristics

CompositionA marble colonnade surrounding a bronze equestrian statue, with numerous allegorical and mythological figures
Dimensions30 m high, 86 m long, 58 m wide

Materials

Main materialsMarble and bronze

Appearance

Inner-face figure artistsManel Fuxà, José Alcoverro, Joaquín Bilbao, and Josep Clarà
Inner-face figuresLas Ciencias (Sciences), La Agricultura (Agriculture), Las Artes (The Arts), and La Industria (Industry)
Central access figure artistsJosé Montserrat and Mateo Inurria
Central access figuresEl Ejército (The Army) and La Marina (The Navy)
Lateral access sculpture artistsFrancisco Javier Escudero Lozano, Antonio Bofill, Eusebi Arnau, and Campmany
Lateral access sculpturesTwo lions at each of the lateral access paths to the semicircle
Under-pedestal sculpture artistsAntonio Parera Saurina, Rafael Atché, Antonio Coll y Pi, and Antoni Alsina
Under-pedestal sculpturesFour bronze mermaids
Stairway sculpture artistsAgapit Vallmitjana i Abarca and Pedro Estany
Stairway sculpturesFour stone lions
Pedestal ornamentationExecuted by Pedro Estany
Pedestal reliefsThree bronze reliefs
Central pedestal figures artistsMiquel Blay, Aniceto Marinas, and Miguel Ángel Trilles
Central pedestal figuresLa Paz (Peace), La Libertad (Freedom), and El Progreso (Progress)
Central sculpture date1904
Central sculpture artistMariano Benlliure
Central sculptureBronze equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII

Significance

Historical significanceFirst of many commemorative statues added to parks in Spain over the following century
Tourist interestMajor attraction for tourists and Madrid residents

Other

Associated activityOn Sundays, dozens of percussionists and jugglers gather at the foot of the monument