Monument to Isabella of Castile, sculpture group in Madrid, Spain
The Monument to Isabella the Catholic is a bronze sculptural group by Manuel Oms, cast at Nelli's foundry in Rome. It shows Isabella I of Castile on horseback in armour, crown and mantle, holding a sceptre and the reins. Cardinal Pedro González de Mendoza, in a cassock with the Gospels, and Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, armed with a naked sword, each hold one of the horse's bridles. All three bronze figures rest on a bronze base.
Sculptor Manuel Oms y Canet created the monument, which was unveiled on November 30, 1883. The installation marked a tribute to Isabella's role in Spanish unification and her historical importance.
The sculpture honors Isabella I, the monarch who financed Columbus's voyage and shaped Spain's future. Visitors encounter a memorial that keeps alive the memory of her political power and influence.
The monument stands on Paseo de la Castellana, in the gardens at the entrance to the National Museum of Natural Sciences, not in Chamartín. It was moved there from its original site. The bronze group rests on a pedestal bearing the arms of Madrid and of the Catholic Monarchs, with an inscription dated 1883.
The ensemble includes not only the royal figure but also two historical companions, creating a rare multi-figure composition for monuments of that era. This arrangement emphasizes the bond between the queen and her key supporters in shaping Spanish history.
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