Equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar, Bronze equestrian monument at Plaza Bolívar, Lima, Peru
The equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar is a bronze sculpture in Lima District's Plaza Bolívar depicting a military leader mounted on a rearing horse in commanding pose. The figure wears a decorated military coat and flowing cape while positioned on a substantial stone pedestal that anchors the monument.
Italian sculptor Adamo Tadolini completed this work in 1859, making it the first of three identical versions that would later be installed in Caracas and San Francisco. The creation of this original in Lima represented the pinnacle of 19th-century equestrian monument techniques.
The monument depicts Bolívar as a military leader commanding a rearing horse, commemorating his role in liberating multiple South American nations from colonial rule. The statue dominates the plaza and serves as a gathering point where locals and visitors connect with the region's history.
The statue stands centrally in Plaza Bolívar near government buildings and cultural institutions that form the administrative hub of Lima District. The location is easily accessible and offers a natural gathering point for exploring the surrounding area.
The entire bronze structure is perfectly balanced on just two horse legs and the tail, a technical feat that showcased advanced casting methods of that era. This engineering achievement was remarkable for the sculptural practices of its time.
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