Question: What does it mean to truly capture the essence of a poet in stone? Right here, before the Antonio Machado Statue, we find a compelling attempt to do just that. Inaugurated on October 13, 1985, this monument pays homage to Antonio Machado. He was a celebrated Spanish poet born in Seville in 1875.
The Antonio Machado Statue stands in what is known as the “City of Poets”. It was an initiative of the municipal authorities. Enrique Tierno Galván was mayor at the time. The statue marks the boundary of a large urban space. It fronts Antonio Machado Street. This area is one of the most significant residential areas in northern Madrid.
Antonio Machado was deeply committed to the Republican cause. He was like most members of the Generation of ’27. He was known for his goodness. He described himself as “good in the good sense of the word”. Machado taught French in Soria and Segovia. He sang of the fields of Castile with beautiful and melancholic verses. His misanthropy and support for the losing side led him to exile. He died in Collioure, France, in 1939.
The setting for the Antonio Machado Statue was conceived by Joaquín Roldán. He was an architect for the City of Madrid. The distinctive head of Antonio Machado is the work of sculptor Pablo Serrano. The original is in the Pablo Serrano Museum in Zaragoza. Serrano created it in 1965 for Baeza. Machado lived there between 1912 and 1919. He was overwhelmed by provincial life. The statue was initially prohibited. It was finally installed on the Paseo de la Muralla in 1983. Fernando Ramón was the architect for this project. Other busts are in the gardens of the National Library of Madrid. They are also in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando.
The bronze head of Antonio Machado rests on a pink granite pedestal. This pedestal divides a cement block wall into two symmetrical sections. Two bodies emerge from the pedestal. The lower body is taller with a curved upper edge. The crowning piece is limestone. It appears embedded in the granite. A narrow horizontal strip has eleven vertical incisions. Water flows through these incisions. It trickles down the lower volume. Inscriptions adorn both faces of the crowning piece. The main face reads “MADRID / A / ANTONIO MACHADO” in recessed characters. These are painted black. The inscription on the back reads “1875-1939 / SEVILLA COLLIOURE” in incised letters. The letters are filled with dark red.
The statue is a hybrid. It combines an ornamental fountain, a mural fountain, and a modern sculpture. It is a semi-elliptical space concave to the urban road. It encloses a large plaza between two ramps leading to an underground parking lot. Behind the statue, an area is covered with grass and a bed of roses.
The Antonio Machado Statue captures the poet’s essence. It is a powerful representation of his life and work. As you stand here, consider the weight of history. Think of the poet’s commitment and his enduring legacy. The statue serves as a reminder of Machado’s profound impact on Spanish literature and culture. It also honors his memory.