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Birth of a New Man

Birth of a New Man, also known in Spanish as Nacimiento de un Hombre Nuevo and popularly as el huevo de Colón, is a monumental sculpture in Seville, Spain. Created by Zurab Tsereteli, it depicts Christopher Columbus partially enclosed by an egg-like shell. The work was given to Seville by the city of Moscow to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Caribbean in 1492. It was inaugurated in 1995 by Elena de Borbón and Jaime de Marichalar. The sculpture is described as the largest statue in Spain, ahead of the Cristo del Otero.

The Birth of a New Man sculpture stands at the end of a dirt path in a park, with trees and bushes around it.
The Birth of a New Man sculpture, known as El Huevo de Colón, in a park setting.
July 2013 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Birth of a New Man sculpture in the distance at the end of a dirt path lined with trees.
Birth of a New Man seen from afar along a tree-lined path.
July 2013 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Detail of the Birth of a New Man sculpture showing a dark figure holding a scroll, framed by a rope lattice and ship mast.
Detail of Birth of a New Man, showing the central figure with a scroll inside the sculpture’s rope-like framework.
July 2013 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Weathered greenish statue head of Birth of a New Man, with a helmet and raised arm visible in dim light.
Detail of the Birth of a New Man sculpture, showing the weathered green statue head and raised arm.
July 2013 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Close-up of Birth of a New Man sculpture with a weathered metal surface, rope-like forms, and a large green-patinated limb against the sky.
Detail of Birth of a New Man showing the sculpture’s weathered surface, rope-like elements, and a large patinated limb.
July 2013 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleBirth of a New Man
Original titleNacimiento de un Hombre Nuevo
French titleLa Naissance de l'homme nouveau
German titleGeburt eines neuen Menschen
Italian titleNascita di un Uomo Nuovo
NicknameEl Huevo de Colón
TypeMonumental bronze sculpture
SubjectChristopher Columbus

Historical context

Commissioning contextCreated in connection with 1992 talks between Seville and Moscow for the 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the Caribbean
ProjectFirst part of the project How Europe Discovered America

Creator

Artist originRussian sculptor of Georgian origin
ArtistZurab Tsereteli

Discovery and provenance

DonorCity of Moscow
RecipientCity of Seville
Gift occasionThe 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the Caribbean in 1492
Transport to SevilleDisassembled and shipped by sea from Saint Petersburg to Santurtzi, then transported by road to Seville using seven trailer trucks and two special vehicles for the largest pieces
AssemblyThe assembly was accident-prone and delayed

Physical characteristics

Height32 m inner statue; 45 m outer egg-shaped shell
ShapeEgg-shaped
StructureOuter shell made of three large surfaces joined by twisted rope-like structures
ScaleColossal

Materials

MaterialBronze, with some parts covered in copper plates

Appearance

Surface motifEach of the three outer surfaces has a Templar-cross opening
Ship modelsSanta María, Pinta, and Niña
DepictionChristopher Columbus stands inside an egg-like shell holding an unrolled navigation chart; three ship models rise from the chart

Iconography and meaning

Meaning of Templar-cross openingsThey refer to the crosses that also adorned the sails of the ships
Symbolic meaningA symbol of the change in worldview triggered by the discovery of America
Meaning of outer surfacesThey represent the sails of Columbus's ships

Location and ownership

Current locationSan Jerónimo Park, Seville, Andalusia, Spain
Installation siteAt the end of a central avenue in a basin on a large circular square at the northwestern edge of San Jerónimo Park
Site historyThe park originated from Expo 92 nurseries and was later turned into a park
Park areaAbout 148,000 m²

History and restoration

Later damageBronze plates were again stolen from the inside of the egg, up to about 15 m high
Recovered material42 bronze plates weighing 503 kg were recovered from scrap yards in Seville and São Brás de Alportel
ArrestsFour people were detained at the end of April 2021
Police investigationIn March 2021 the National Police opened an investigation after a complaint by the Seville City Council
Initial damageThe sculpture initially suffered looting and vandalism, including theft of the bronze plates forming the egg
RestorationDamages were repaired starting in February 2000
Related ceremonyThe monument was inaugurated after Infanta Elena was granted the title Adoptive Daughter of the City by Mayor Soledad Becerril in Plaza de San Francisco
Inaugurated byInfanta Elena de Borbón and Jaime de Marichalar
Inauguration date9 October 1995

Significance

Size ranking in SpainClaimed largest statue in Spain, ahead of Cristo del Otero
Size ranking in EuropeOne of the largest statues in Europe
ConditionThe damage is visible, with missing panels exposing the underlying scaffolding and creating cavities used by birds, especially pigeons

Other

ReplicaThe artist donated a smaller replica to UNESCO in 1996; it measures 160 × 112 × 90 cm and is located in front of UNESCO headquarters in Paris
Replica occasionDonated on the occasion of his appointment as UNESCO Special Ambassador
Commemorative stampRussia issued a stamp featuring the sculpture in 2005 for UNESCO's 60th anniversary