Bernardo de Gálvez (statue)

Bernardo de Gálvez
Artist Juan de Ávalos
Year June 3, 1976
Type Bronze
Dimensions 370 cm × 400 cm × 180 cm (144 in × 156 in × 72 in)
Location Washington, D.C., USA
Owner National Park Service

Bernardo de Gálvez is a bronze equestrian statue, sculpted by Juan de Ávalos of Spain.[1] Located in the American national capital of Washington, D.C., it was dedicated on June 3, 1976, one month and a day before Independence Day of the Fourth of July, 1776. Evidently, it was a gift from Spain to the United States upon the occasion of the U.S.A.'s Bicentennial (1776–1976) commemoration, 200 years later after the American Revolution and subsequent American Revolutionary War (1776-1783).

The Bernardo de Gálvez sculpture is located along with the Statues of the Liberators, at Virginia Avenue and 22nd Street, N.W., near the United States Department of State building in the old Foggy Bottom neighborhood in Washington, D.C. It was dedicated by King Juan Carlos I of the Kingdom of Spain[2]

The inscription on the base reads:

(Front:)
BERNARDO DE GALVEZ
(COUNT DE GALVEZ)
1746–1786

(Side:)
BERNARDO DE GALVEZ THE GREAT
SPANISH SOLDIER CARRIED OUT
A COURAGEOUS CAMPAIGN IN
LANDS BORDERING THE LOWER
MISSISSIPPI. THIS MASTERPIECE
OF MILITARY STRATEGY LIGHTENED
THE PRESSURE OF THE ENGLISH
IN THE WAR AGAINST THE AMERICAN
SETTLERS WHO WERE FIGHTING FOR
THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
MAY THE STATUE OF BERNARDO
DE GALVEZ SERVE AS A REMINDER
THAT SPAIN OFFERED THE BLOOD
OF HER SOLDIERS FOR THE CAUSE
OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.
Excerpts of a speech
given on this location
on June 3, 1976 by
His Majesty
DON JUAN CARLOS I
King of Spain

Sculptor
Juan de Ávalos
Madrid, Spain

Text of the inscription

See also

References

  1. ↑ ""Bernado de Galvez (Count de Galvez) 1746-1786, (sculpture)"". Siris-artinventories.si.edu. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  2. ↑ "GáLVEZ, Bernardo de: Memorial near the State Dept in Washington, D.C. by Juan De Avalos located in James M. Goode's Foggy Bottom area". Dcmemorials.com. 1976-06-03. Retrieved 2012-05-21.

Coordinates: 38°53′44″N 77°02′55″W / 38.895683°N 77.048533°W / 38.895683; -77.048533

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