“Tomatoes? Seriously?” you might ask, standing here before the Luís de Camões Statue. Well, let me tell you, this unassuming monument has certainly seen its share of drama. Dedicated to Luís de Camões, Portugal’s most celebrated poet, this statue has a history as tumultuous as a scene from one of his epic poems.
The first statue, a grand bust atop a towering pedestal, was unveiled in 1912. It was meant to be a proud tribute, nestled in Avenue Camões, a street named in his honor. However, the Parisian public, it seems, had a different idea. Apparently, Camões’ reputation as a bit of a scoundrel, a lover of life and, well, ladies, didn’t sit well with the prim and proper residents of the 16th arrondissement. They pelted the poor statue with tomatoes and left refuse at its base.
The backlash was so severe that the statue mysteriously vanished a year later! Years passed. Then, the Sociedade de Estudos Portugueses, a group dedicated to promoting Portuguese culture, tracked down the missing bust in an antique shop. The statue bounced around various locations, even spending some time hidden in a basement! Finally, in the 1980s, a new, less imposing statue was commissioned, replacing the original. This one, thankfully, has been spared the wrath of flying produce. Today, the Luís de Camões Statue stands as a testament to the enduring power of art and a subtle reminder that even literary giants can have their flaws.