Consider this: General Jose Gervasio Artigas, a name synonymous with Uruguayan independence, stands here in bronze. The General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue is located at the intersection of Constitution Avenue and Virginia Avenue at 18th Street. It is a powerful tribute to a 19th-century leader. He was also known as “Protector de los Pueblos Libres” and “Jefe de los Orientales”.
General Jose Gervasio Artigas is part of a collection known as the Statues of the Liberators. The General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue embodies the spirit of freedom. Juan Manuel Blanes created the General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue before 1948.
Look closely at the base of the General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue. You will see engraved words. They read: “Liberty of America is my dream and its attainment my only hope.” These words encapsulate Artigas’ vision for a free America.
Interestingly, there’s a twin of the General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue in Montevideo Minnesota. The General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue was delivered there before this one. But Montevideo erected theirs in 1949. The Parks Department did not erect the General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue here until June 19, 1950.
Both statues are gifts. They came from the people of Uruguay to the people of the United States. These statues are replicas. The original General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue stands in San José de Mayo Uruguay. Italian sculptor Dante Costa created the original.
Uruguayan officer Edgardo Ubaldo Genta conceived the idea for these statues in 1940. He meant it as a gesture of goodwill between the two nations. Thus, the General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue became a symbol of friendship and shared ideals.
As you stand before the General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue, remember its journey. It started as an idea and transformed into a lasting symbol of liberty. It represents the bond between Uruguay and the United States. The General Jose Gervasio Artigas Statue immortalizes a hero. He is a father of independence whose dream continues to inspire.