A bronze copy of the monument to Christopher Columbus from the Plaza de Colón in Madrid has presided over Central Park since 1894. The work, by sculptor Jerónimo Suñol, was donated by a New York society.
The Plaza de Colón in Madrid is not only a landmark for the people of Madrid, but it has a twin across the Atlantic. An exact bronze replica of the admiral's statue has stood in the heart of Central Park, New York, for over a century. The work, signed by Spanish sculptor Jerónimo Suñol, was a gift from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.
A journey from Suñol's workshop to Manhattan
The original statue, inaugurated in Madrid in 1885, depicts Christopher Columbus standing with outstretched arms and looking up to the sky in a gesture of gratitude. The sculptor Jerónimo Suñol, a prolific Catalan artist based in Madrid, was responsible for shaping this image. Suñol also decorated the clock at the Bank of Spain and created the monument to the Marquis of Salamanca, among other works.
The New York copy was commissioned by the genealogical society, which wanted to commemorate the fourth centenary of Columbus's voyage. On May 12, 1894, the Vice President of the United States, Adlai E. Stevenson I, inaugurated the statue in Central Park. Since then, Columbus's figure has witnessed the city's evolution, although not always in a peaceful environment.
Vandalism and controversy surrounding Columbus's figure
In August 2017, the statue in Central Park was vandalised with red paint and graffiti that read
“Hate will not be tolerated” and “#somethingscoming”. The then Mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, condemned the act, although the controversy over Columbus's legacy has been growing. In Los Angeles, for example, Columbus Day has been transformed into Indigenous Peoples Day, a change in sensitivity that contrasts with the spirit of the late 19th century.
For the people of Madrid, this replica is a source of pride: the work of a local artist crossed borders and is now part of the landscape of one of the most famous parks in the world. However, it is important not to confuse it with the marble statue of Columbus that stands in Columbus Circle, also in New York, but created by the Italian Gaetano Russo and funded by the Italian-American community.
The story of this replica demonstrates how art travels and adapts to new contexts. While in Madrid the original statue continues to preside over the square, its New York clone continues to spark discussion, straddling homage and controversy. A curiosity that any Madrilenian can share when visiting Central Park.
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