Monumento a S.M. el rey D. Alfonso XII

[Image: old picture of the monument]

En 1887 las Cortes propusieron a la reina regente María Cristina erigir un monumento al rey Alfonso XII. No obstante, la idea se pospuso hasta el año 1901 en que la reina volvió a impulsar el proyecto.

Mediante concurso público se convocó a arquitectos y escultores españoles. Estos debían presentar los proyectos con un lema y mostrar al monarca como el pacificador del reino.

El proyecto ganador fue el de José Grases Riera, conocido sobre todo por ser el autor del edificio modernista de la Sociedad General de Autores de la calla Fernando VI.

Uno de los principales atractivos del proyecto era el emplazamiento elegido, el lado oriental del Estanque Grande del Parque del Retiro, donde hasta el momento se levantaba el embarcadero construido por Isidro González Velázquez en el reinado de Fernando VII (1814-1833).

El monumento a Alfonso XII es el primer ejemplo en España de escultura monumental dedicada a la Patria, personificada en un monarca.

El 18 de mayo de 1902 se colocó la primera piedra. La falta de recursos económicos para realizar la obra, hizo que su construcción se alargase inaugurándose el 3 de junio de 1922.

Sobre una plataforma que se asoma sobre el estanque se alza el conjunto desarrollado a lo largo de un eje vertical (el pedestal de la estatua ecuestre) alrededor del cual gira la columnata como telón de fondo y la escalinata como acceso desde el agua al monumento.

Grandes escultores de la época constituyeron a dar vida al monumental proyecto de Grases Riera, convirtiéndolo en una variada exposición del arte escultórico de principios del siglo XX.

UBICACIÓN DE LOS GRUPOS ESCULTORICOS
[Map of the sculptures]

COLUMNA CENTRAL
1 Monumento ecuestre de S.M. D. Alfonso XII, obra de Mariano Benlliure.
2 Alegoría de la Paz, de Miguel Blay.
3 Alegoria de la Libertad, de Aniceto Marianas,
4 Alegoria del Proceso, de Miguel A. Trilles.
5 Relieve conmemorando el desembarco de S.M. D. Alfonso XII en Barcelona, de Pedro Carbonell
6 Relieve dedicado a la Villa de Madrid, de Miguel Blay.
7 Relieve conmemorativo de la visita de SM. D. Alfonso XII a Sevilla, de Lorenzo Coollant Valera.

COLUMNATA
1 Alegoría de las Artes, realizada por José Bilbao.
2 Alegoría de la Industria, de José Clará.
3 Alegoría del Ejército, de José Tomás Monserrat.
4 Alegoría de la Marina, de Mateo Inurria.
5 Alegoría de la Agricultura, de José Alcoverro.
6 Alegoria de las Ciencias, de Manuel Puxa

ESCALINATA
1 Leones de Agapito Vallniitjana y Pedro Estany.
2 Sirena a lomos de tortuga, realiza por Pedro Alsina.
3 Sirena que cabalga sobre un pez, de Rafael Arteche.
4 Sirena que monta una langosta, de Antonio Parera.
5 Sirena sobre un tritón, de Antonio Coll.
6 Leones con guirnaldas, realizados por Escudero, Bofill, Arnau y Company.

[Emblem of Madrid]
medio ambiente y movilidad
MADRID

The Monument to Alfonso XII is a central part of the Buen Retiro Park. The monument was designed by the architect José Grases Riera, who won a competition held in 1902. The architect died in 1919, but work continued with a replacement architect. The monument was inaugurated in 1922.
The monument is dedicated to Alfonso XII, King of Spain (1857-1885), who reigned from 1875 to 1885. His reign restored the monarchy to Spain after the First Spanish Republic.

The monument was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

On the park map the monument appears as number 3 Click for sign's details

The image of the monument shown on the sign appears here in a larger size Click for a larger image

The map depicting the statues located in the monument appears here in a larger size Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:

Monument to His Majesty King Alfonso XII

[Image: old picture of the monument]

In 1887, the Cortes proposed to the Queen Regent, María Cristina, that a monument be erected to King Alfonso XII. However, the idea was postponed until 1901, when the queen again promoted the project.

A public competition was held for Spanish architects and sculptors. They were to present their projects with a motto and portray the monarch as the peacemaker of the kingdom.

The winning project was by José Grases Riera, best known for designing the modernist building of the General Society of Authors on Fernando VI Street.

One of the project’s main attractions was the chosen location: the eastern side of the Great Pond in Retiro Park, where the pier built by Isidro González Velázquez during the reign of Ferdinand VII (1814-1833) had previously stood.

The monument to Alfonso XII is the first example in Spain of a monumental sculpture dedicated to the Fatherland, personified by a monarch.

The foundation stone was laid on May 18, 1902. The lack of financial resources to carry out the work delayed its construction, and it was inaugurated on June 3, 1922.

On a platform overlooking the pond, the complex rises along a vertical axis (the pedestal of the equestrian statue), around which the colonnade rotates as a backdrop and the staircase provides access from the water to the monument.

Great sculptors of the time contributed to bringing Grases Riera’s monumental project to life, transforming it into a diverse exhibition of early 20th-century sculptural art.

LOCATION OF THE SCULPTURAL GROUPS
[Map of the sculptures]

CENTRAL COLUMN
1 Equestrian monument to His Majesty Alfonso XII, by Mariano Benlliure.
2 Allegory of Peace, by Miguel Blay.
3 Allegory of Liberty, by Aniceto Marianas.
4 Allegory of the Trial, by Miguel A. Trilles.
5 Relief commemorating the landing of His Majesty Alfonso XII in Barcelona, ​​by Pedro Carbonell.
6 Relief dedicated to the city of Madrid, by Miguel Blay.
7 Relief commemorating the visit of His Majesty Alfonso XII to Seville, by Lorenzo Coollant Valera.

COLONNADE
1 Allegory of the Arts, by José Bilbao.
2 Allegory of Industry, by José Clará Click for sign's details.
3 Allegory of the Army, by José Tomás Monserrat.
4 Allegory of the Navy, by Mateo Inurria.
5 Allegory of Agriculture, by José Alcoverro Click for sign's details.
6 Allegory of the Sciences, by Manuel Puxa

STAIR
1 Lions by Agapito Vallniitjana and Pedro Estany.
2 Mermaid on the Back of a Turtle, by Pedro Alsina.
3 Mermaid Riding a Fish, by Rafael Arteche.
4 Mermaid Riding a Lobster, by Antonio Parera.
5 Mermaid on a Triton, by Antonio Coll.
6 Lions with Garlands, by Escudero, Bofill, Arnau & Company.

[Emblem of Madrid]
Environment and Mobility
MADRID