Pedro de Mena

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Bust of Pedro de Mena by Virgilio Galán Sánchez, 2010
Calle Afligidos
Málaga, March 2024

“Pedro de Mena y Medrano (August 1628 - 13 October 1688) was a Spanish sculptor. Pedro de Mena was born in Granada, Andalusia. He was a pupil of his father Alonso de Mena as well as of Alonzo Cano. His first success was achieved in work for the convent of St. Anthony Granada, including figures of St Joseph, St Anthony of Padua, St Diego, St Pedro Mentara, St Francis, and St Clare. In 1658 he signed a contract for sculptural work on the choir stalls of the cathedral of Málaga, this work extending over four years. Other works include statues of the Madonna and child and of St Joseph in Madrid, the polychromatic figures in the church of St Isodoro, the Magdalena and the Gertrudlis in the church of St Martin (Madrid), the crucifixion in the Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Madrid), the statuette of St Francis of Assisi in Toledo, and of St Joseph in the St Nicholas church in Murcia. Mena traveled to Madrid in 1662. Between 1673 and 1679 Mena worked at Córdoba. About 1680 he was in Granada, where he executed a half-length Madonna and child (seated) for the church of St. Dominic. Mena died in Málaga, city where he spent most of his life, and where he had a sculpture studio for thirty years until his death in 1688.” (Pedro de Mena, Wikipedia)

Monument to the Peseta

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Monument to the Peseta by José Gómez Guerreo, 2007
Paseo Maritimo Rey de España
Los Boliches
Fuengirola, March 2024

“Our ‘Monument to the Peseta’ was the first one in Spain dedicated to our former currency, though nowadays there are others in some Andalusian towns like Estepona (Málaga) or Roquetas de Mar (Almería). It has been 10 years since we said bye-bye to our pesetas and we welcomed the euro, but there are still some nostalgics who miss them as it was the currency of Spain for over a hundred years.” (Monument to the Peseta, Hotel Yaramar)

Incontri

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“Incontri” (Encounters)
Monument to Paul Harris by Romano Costi, 1994
Viale Machiavelli
Florence, January 2024

“It is a complex of four statues (originally five) by the Treviso sculptor Romano Costi inaugurated in 1994 on the initiative of the Rotary Club of Florence South which at that time had its headquarters in a prestigious hotel nearby. It was a group of bronze statues that moved on their base, pushed by the wind or by human hands. The title of the work (Encounters) symbolizes the meeting between peoples and cultures of the five continents.” (Paul Harris, Osservatore Libero)

Generación del 27

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“Generación del 27”
(Gala, Emilio Prados, Salvador Dalí, Manuel Altolaguirre)
Calle Castillo del Inglés
Torremolinos, March 2024

“Sculpture of the painter Salvador Dalí and his muse Gala, who between April and May 1930, resided in the Santa Clara Guesthouse, where Dali painted the painting ‘The Invisible Man’. Next to them appear the poets Manuel Altolaguirre and Emilio Prados historiographically attached to the generation of '27.” (Generación del 27, Ayuntamiento de Torremolinos)

Homenaje al Turista

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Homenaje al Turista by Andrés López Yebra, 1994
Paseo Marítimo Rey de España
Los Boliches
Fuengirola, March 2024

“A female silhouette, lifting a dove into flight, pays homage with its sculptural movement to those tourists who, at that time, were beginning to position Fuengirola as an important tourist enclave.” (Monument to the Tourist, Wikimedia)

Homenaje al Pescador Mediterráneo

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Homenaje al Pescador Mediterráneo
(Homage to the Mediterranean Fisherman)
By Aurelio Teno, 1996
Plaza del Remo
Torremolinos, March 2024

“The monument is located in the Plaza del Remo, on the promenade of La Carihuela. It is the work of the Cordovan sculptor Aurelio Teno and was inaugurated in 1996. It was built in honor of the fishermen and is about the recent tragedy of the San Carlos fishery in which so many sailors lost their lives, some of them also from La Carihuela.” (Homenaje al Pescador Mediterráneo, Komoot)

Niña de Benalmádena

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“Niña de Benalmádena” by Jaime Pimentel, 1968
Plaza de España
Benalmádena, March 2024

“The ‘Niña de Benalmádena’ (Girl of Benalmádena), a bronze sculpture, a unique symbol and icon of the town of Benalmádena (Málaga), is part of the fountain that stands in the Plaza de España. This work, by the sculptor Jaime Pimentel, was made at the request of the mayor at that time, Mr. Enrique Bolín Pérez-Argemí. The sculpture came to predict the resurgence of the town 's economy and its connection with tourism and more international culture. Pimentel's work has always had an important impact in the places where it has been exhibited, becoming, in the sculptor's own words, emblems.” (Niña de Benalmádena, Wikipedia)

Thomas Becket

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Statue of Thomas Becket by Edward Bainbridge Copnall, 1970
St Paul's Churchyard, City of London
London, May 2023

“The statue of Thomas Becket (1970) by Edward Bainbridge Copnall is installed in St Paul's Churchyard in London, United Kingdom. It was designated a Grade II Listed building in January 2016.” (Statue of Thomas Becket, Wikipedia)

Mano abierta

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“Mano abierta” (Open Hand) by Rosario García Arraiza, 2015
Playa de Fuengirola
Paseo Maritimo Rey de España
Fuengirola, March 2024

St Edward's Crown

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St Edward's Crown
Marble Arch
London, May 2023

“A giant crown has been unveiled at Marble Arch in west London to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. The 300kg (660lb) installation, which is lit up at night, stands at nearly 5m (16ft) tall and is covered with a selection of glass stones. It is modelled on St Edward's Crown, which the King will be crowned with during Saturday's service at Westminster Abbey. Visitors to the installation are being invited to scan a QR code to learn about Marble Arch's connection to the Royal Family. The crown will be on display until 11 May.” (Giant crown unveiled at Marble Arch, BBC)

Paternoster

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“Paternoster” by Elizabeth Fink, 1975
Paternoster Square, City of London
London, May 2023

“Paternoster (FCR 243), also known as Shepherd and Sheep or Shepherd with his Flock, is an outdoor bronze sculpture of 1975 by Elisabeth Frink, installed in Paternoster Square near St Paul's Cathedral in London, United Kingdom.” (Paternoster, Wikipedia)

Chat-oiseau

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“Chat-oiseau” by Jean-Michel Folon, 1994
Giardino delle rose (Rose Garden)
Via Poggi
Florence, December 2023

“Since September 2011 the garden has hosted twelve sculptures by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon, donated by his widow to the municipality of Florence. The sculptures are: ‘Partir’ (2005), ‘Un oiseau’ (1993), ‘Chat-oiseau’ (1994), ‘Chat’ (1996), ‘Vingt-cinquième pensée’ (2001), ‘Méditerranée’ (2001), ‘Panthère’ (2003), ‘Walking’ (2003), ‘Je me souviens’ (2003), ‘Partir’ (2005) and ‘L’envol’ (2005).” (Giardino delle Rose, Wikipedia)

Chat

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“Chat” by Jean-Michel Folon, 1996
Giardino delle rose (Rose Garden)
Via Poggi
Florence, December 2023

“Since September 2011 the garden has hosted twelve sculptures by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon, donated by his widow to the municipality of Florence. The sculptures are: ‘Partir’ (2005), ‘Un oiseau’ (1993), ‘Chat-oiseau’ (1994), ‘Chat’ (1996), ‘Vingt-cinquième pensée’ (2001), ‘Méditerranée’ (2001), ‘Panthère’ (2003), ‘Walking’ (2003), ‘Je me souviens’ (2003), ‘Partir’ (2005) and ‘L’envol’ (2005).” (Giardino delle Rose, Wikipedia)

L'envol

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“L'envol” by Jean-Michel Folon, 2005
Giardino delle rose (Rose Garden)
Via Poggi
Florence, December 2023

“Since September 2011 the garden has hosted twelve sculptures by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon, donated by his widow to the municipality of Florence. The sculptures are: ‘Partir’ (2005), ‘Un oiseau’ (1993), ‘Chat-oiseau’ (1994), ‘Chat’ (1996), ‘Vingt-cinquième pensée’ (2001), ‘Méditerranée’ (2001), ‘Panthère’ (2003), ‘Walking’ (2003), ‘Je me souviens’ (2003), ‘Partir’ (2005) and ‘L’envol’ (2005).” (Giardino delle Rose, Wikipedia)

House of Altoviti

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Coat of arms of the House of Altoviti
Piazza del Limbo
Florence, December 2023

“The Altoviti are a prominent noble family of Florence, Italy. Since the medieval period they were one of the most distinguished banking and political families appointed to the highest offices of the Republic of Florence, friends and patrons of Galileo Galilei, Vasari, Raphael, and Michelangelo. They had a close personal relationship with the papacy. Through a predominant endogamous marriage policy they established alliances with dynasties of principal and papal nobility as the Medici, Cybo, Rospigliosi, Sacchetti, Corsini, and Aldobrandini. Three popes have blood relations with the Altoviti; Innocent VIII, Clement IX and Clement XII. Pope Innocent VIII was the uncle of La Papessa Dianora Altoviti Cybo. Her son Bindo Altoviti became one of the most influential papal bankers and patron of the arts of the Renaissance. The Altoviti are still present and descendants continue to be involved in art and culture.” (Altoviti, Wikipedia)

Samson Slaying a Philistine

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“Samson Slaying a Philistine” by Pierino da Vinci, 1552
First courtyard, Palazzo Vecchio
Piazza della Signoria
Florence, December 2023

“In Rome in 1547 Pierino extended his knowledge of Michelangelo's sculptures, and when he returned to Tuscany he began work on a statue which had its subject a theme associated with Michelangelo, was loosely based on Michelangelo's designs, and was an essay in Michelangelo's sculptural technique. This is the marble group of ‘Samson Slaying a Philistine’, now in the courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio.” (Pierino da Vinci, Web Gallery of Art)

Homeless Jesus

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“Homeless Jesus” by Timothy Schmalz, 2013
Piazza di Sant'Egidio, Trastevere
Rome, June 2019

“‘Homeless Jesus’, also known as ‘Jesus the Homeless’ (French: Jésus le sans-abri), is a bronze sculpture by Timothy Schmalz depicting Jesus as a homeless person, sleeping on a park bench. The original sculpture was installed in 2013 at Regis College, a theological college federated with the University of Toronto. Other copies of the statue were installed in several other locations beginning in 2014. As of 2017, over 50 copies were created and placed around the world.” (Homeless Jesus, Wikipedia)

In Anticipation

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“In Anticipation” by James Burke, 2018
Worship Street, Shoreditch
London, May 2023

“‘In Anticipation’ was designed by the artist James Burke with his company Acrylicize. The sculpture was commissioned by Brookfield Properties to stand outside Amazon’s new head office at Principal Place in the centre of London close to Liverpool Street Station. Referencing traditional sculptures that can be seen all around the capital, the piece features a man leaning against a plinth that he has evidently just stepped down from. The title leads you to wonder what he might do next as you look up at the thirty foot high giant. The style resembles a sketch made up of lots of separate lines of varying weight. To emulate the hand drawn look, the piece was fabricated from 800 pieces of mild steel tubing that were bent into their individual shapes and then welded together. It was then shot-blasted before being painted with an ultramarine blue polyurethane based paint. The finished sculpture, weighing 1.2 tons, was transported in one piece leaving on Saturday to arrive early on Sunday morning to avoid the central London traffic. There were a few logistical problems to overcome before the piece could be placed in position on the concourse outside Amazon’s HQ. Firstly, the road immediately in front was located directly above a tube station which meant that a crane couldn’t be used. This meant that we had to off-load in a side street and then hand manoeuvre the piece on its side up a slope to the erection site. This was aided by the heavy-duty castors we had welded onto the sculpture for this purpose. It was then lifted and dropped into place using a block and tackle on an A-frame before being secured in position.” (In Anticipation, Littlehampton Welding Ltd)

Victrix hinc procul evola

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Eagles by Publio Morbiducci, 1925
“Victrix hinc procul evola” (Victorious fly far away)
Piazza del Viminale
Rome, June 2019

The Knight of the Cnihtengild

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“The Knight of the Cnihtengild” by Denys Mitchell, 1990
Devonshire Square, City of London
London, May 2023

“A stylised representation of one of the thirteen knights (the Cnihtengild) who were granted the land lying to the east of the line Aldgate – Bishopsgate in the tenth century by King Edgar. The knight is depicted in armour, holding a lance and sitting astride a neighing horse. The horse has an elaborate carapace and bridle. The carapace is decorated with wave-like linked plates centred with blue glass lenses. The whole stands on a circular, slabbed granite base which rotates periodically. Lights are set into the base.” (The Knight of the Cnihtengild, Art UK)