“Have you met the family?” I ask. We are standing before the Familia de Ciervos Statue. This bronze artwork portrays a male deer protecting his family. The family includes a female deer and a fawn.
The Familia de Ciervos Statue is the work of French sculptor George Gardet. Gardet created this bronze sculpture in 1908. The statue was cast using the lost wax method by Renu00e9 Fulda in Paris.
Originally, the Familia de Ciervos Statue stood in Plaza Juan Facundo Quiroga. This was behind the Rosedal. Another deer sculpture by Prosper Lecourtier is in Plaza Intendente Seeber nearby.
This well-known sculpture in Bosques de Palermo suffered damage. It was vandalized. The city’s Department of Monuments and Artworks restored it. Missing parts were recreated. In mid-2011, the restored Familia de Ciervos Statue returned. It came back to its place in all its splendor.
The restoration was a meticulous, handcrafted process. The cervatillo had to be replaced. Two of the female’s legs were also repaired. Work was done on the pedestal. Many layers of paint were removed.
The Familia de Ciervos Statue weighs two tons. Its base is made to resemble stone. Vandalism had stripped the statue of its charm. It even put the artwork at risk.
The Minister of Environment and Public Space, Diego Santilli, emphasized the importance of recovering vandalized art. He highlighted that the restoration of the Familia de Ciervos contributes to the beauty of the Rosedal and Bosques de Palermo.
Santilli also mentioned the high cost of vandalism. In 2010, vandalism caused a loss of millions of pesos. That money could have funded six new plazas. He hoped people would become more aware and care for public spaces. Damage is paid for by everyone.
Now the deer family shines again. The Rosedal witnesses their renewed beauty under the Buenos Aires sun. The hope is that everyone will care for it. The goal is for the Familia de Ciervos Statue to remain beautiful for many years. So now you know the story of Familia de Ciervos Statue.