Don Diego de Vargas Zapata Luján Ponce de León, El Marques de la Nava de Barcinas, Bronze statue at Cathedral Park in Santa Fe, United States
This bronze sculpture displays a full-length figure dressed in Spanish colonial garments, holding a spear and wearing a cap and saber. The work was originally positioned at Cathedral Park and is now displayed at the New Mexico History Museum.
Sculptor Donna Quasthoff created this work in 2007 to commemorate a 17th-century Spanish military leader. The figure references the reconquest of Santa Fe following the Pueblo Revolt.
The bronze figure displays Spanish colonial clothing details that reflect historical portraits from Spain. Visitors can observe how this representation connects to the broader Spanish heritage visible throughout Santa Fe.
The sculpture is housed in a museum and can be viewed during regular opening hours. It is worth examining the cast-bronze technique and sculptural details from multiple angles to fully appreciate the work.
The work was removed from Cathedral Park in 2020 and spent time in an unexpected location outside official storage. This episode raised questions about how public art is protected and preserved in the community.
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