Monument to Arriaga by Francisco Durrio, Bronze sculpture in Doña Casilda Iturrizar park, Bilbao, Spain.
Monument to Arriaga by Francisco Durrio is a bronze sculpture featuring Euterpe, the muse of music, located in Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park. The figure holds a lyre from which water flows continuously, blending sculptural artistry with functional design elements in a single work.
Francisco Durrio created this work in 1933 to honor Juan Crisostomo de Arriaga, a composer from Bilbao who died at age 19 during the early 1800s. The monument reflects the city's recognition of one of its most important musical figures from that era.
The sculpture represents Euterpe, the muse of music, who holds special meaning in Bilbao's artistic identity. Visitors can see the city's deep connection to music and art through this work, which stands in a park that brings together public spaces and cultural expression.
The monument sits behind the Museum of Fine Arts within the park and is accessible by several public transportation routes. The park features open pathways and wide spaces that make it easy to locate the work and view it from different angles.
The sculpture was removed and reinstalled between 1948 and 1975 because the depiction of the nude figure sparked public debate. This contested past reveals how public artworks can become mirrors of a society's evolving attitudes toward art and representation.
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