Monument to Daoiz and Velarde (Segovia)

The laying of the foundation stone was held on 6 May 1908,^[1] on the occasion of the festivities taking place in early May for the 100th anniversary of the Dos de Mayo uprising.

Following the chronicle by Carlos Luis de Cuenca, the monument can be described as follows: it occupies an area of 242 square metres in the Plaza de la Reina Victoria, in front of the Alcázar of Segovia, and it is enclosed by a fence cast in the workshops of Trubia.^[2]

The first body of the pedestal lies in the centre of a wide platform with granite steps.^[2] It supports robust mouldings on which the frustum emerges.^[2] The sides of the pedestal are ornamented by two large reliefs and by two plaques displaying the coats of arms of Seville (Daoíz's homeland), and Santander (Velarde's homeland) and the respective commemorative inscriptions.^[2] An allegory of History lies on the steps of the pedestal;^[2] it is sculpted on white marble, contrasting with a bronze relief depicting the last stand at the Monteleón artillery barracks.^[2] The other relief shows Daoiz rallying the people of Madrid, engaged in a desperate struggle against the French troops.^[2]

The allegorical figure of Spain tops off the monument, holding the dying bodies of the two artillerymen in her arms, wrapped in the national flag.^[2] In the lower part there is an eagle, clutching the rock with one of its claws, fighting to pull out the flag with the other claw.^[2]

Toribio García de Andrés worked in the basement's building works.^[1]

The monument was unveiled on 15 July 1910 by Alfonso XIII.^[3]

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  Front side relief an allegory of History
• 
  Sculptural group topping off the monument
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  Back side relief

Citations

Bibliography

• Cuenca, Carlos Luis de [in Spanish] (22 July 1910). "Crónica general". La Ilustración Española y Americana. LIV (27). Madrid: 34–35.
• García Guatas, Manuel (2003). "Las efemérides de 1808 en sus monumentos" (PDF). In Lacarra Ducay, María del Carmen; Giménez Navarro, Cristina (eds.). Historia y política a través de la escultura pública 1820-1920. Zaragoza: Institución Fernando el Católico. pp. 199–233. ISBN 84-7820-686-8.