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Hand

Hand is a bronze sculpture by the Colombian artist Fernando Botero. Known for its plump form, a trademark of the sculptor, the 500-kilogram work has been on public display in Madrid, Spain, since 1994. It was one of twenty-one exhibits in a Botero exhibition that year. After a public vote, another work was gifted to the city, while Hand was purchased by Telefónica in October 1994 for 70 million Spanish pesetas. Its matte finish made it well suited for permanent outdoor display. In April 1995, Telefónica loaned the sculpture to the city, and it was installed on Paseo de la Castellana.

Dark Botero hand sculpture with curled fingers on a concrete plinth.
A dark hand sculpture with rounded contours stands on a concrete plinth.
May 2011 © · CC BY 2.0
Botero’s Hand sculpture rising from a pedestal on a grassy median in Madrid
Fernando Botero’s Hand stands on a median along a street in Madrid.
© · CC BY 3.0
Botero’s Hand sculpture on a pedestal in a Madrid park with a fountain and buildings behind it.
Botero’s Hand sculpture in Madrid, set on a lawn with a fountain and city buildings in the background.
July 2002 © Dirección General de Turismo. Consejería de Economía e Innovación Tecnológica. Comunidad de Madrid. · CC BY 3.0 es
Dark hand sculpture with fingers pointing upward on a stone pedestal beside a fountain and lawn.
A dark hand sculpture rises from a stone pedestal in a landscaped area with a fountain and city buildings behind it.
July 2021 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Fernando Botero\'s Hand sculpture silhouetted against a bright overcast sky.
Fernando Botero\'s Hand sculpture in Madrid, seen from below against the sky.
April 2006 © · CC BY-SA 2.0

Identification

TitleThe Hand / La Mano
TypeSculpture
ArtistFernando Botero
Artist nationalityColombian

Historical context

Initial exhibitionOne of twenty-one exhibits in a 1994 exhibition of Botero's work
Public vote outcome for the exhibitionWoman with Mirror received the most votes and was gifted to the city by the artist
Corporate purchase advocateMadrid treasurer Fernando López Amor urged corporations to purchase other works and place them on public display
Reason for suitability for outdoor displayIts matte finish made it more suitable than the other exhibits for permanent outdoor display

Discovery and provenance

BuyerTelefónica
Purchase dateOctober 1994
Purchase price70 million Spanish pesetas (around €420,000)
Loan to cityTelefónica loaned the sculpture to the City Council of Madrid in April 1995
OwnershipTelefónica retains ownership

Location and ownership

Current ownershipTelefónica retains ownership
Installation locationPaseo de la Castellana, Madrid
LocationPaseo de la Castellana, Madrid, Spain

Physical characteristics

MaterialBronze
Weight500 kilograms
SizeLarge proportions
HeightApproximately as tall as a standing person
ColorDark color of the metal
FinishUnpainted, matte finish
Form/stylePlump form, a trademark style of Fernando Botero

Appearance

DescriptionThe graceful and airy gesture of the whole set of fingers makes it a singular work

Iconography and meaning

Depicted subjectA human hand

History and restoration

Reported directional interpretationEl País reported that its position seemed to point towards the Equestrian statue of Francisco Franco
Reported nearby reference pointThe Equestrian statue of Francisco Franco, then in Plaza de San Juan de la Cruz
Related third Botero workRaptio of Europa was installed at Madrid–Barajas Airport

Other

Not a gift to MadridUnlike Botero's La Mujer con Espejo, this sculpture was not a gift from the sculptor to the city of Madrid