Ponciano Ponzano
Ponciano Ponzano y Gascón | |
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Federico de Madrazo (1841) | |
Born | 19 January 1813 Zaragoza, Spain |
Died | 15 September 1877 Madrid, Spain | (aged 64)
Nationality | Spain |
Occupation | Sculptor |
Known for | Congreso de los Diputados |
Ponciano Ponzano y Gascón (19 January 1813 – 15 September 1877) was a Spanish neoclassical sculptor. A prolific artist, in his day he was highly esteemed. His work is now largely forgotten, although it can still be seen in many public locations.
Early years
Ponciano Ponzano was born in Zaragoza on 19 January 1813. His father was a guard at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Luis, and he grew up among works of art.[1] As a child he showed a great love of drawing and painting. He studied sculpture in the
Later career
On his return to Spain Ponzano established a workshop in Madrid. He received many commissions, particularly for busts of members of the government and the royal family.[4] He was appointed the official sculptor of the court of Queen
In his day Ponciano Ponzano was one of the most highly regarded of Aragonese sculptors. He moved in high social circles, and was considered to be of excellent moral character. However, his work has been criticized as not being authentically creative. The neoclassical tradition was essentially sterile and he lived in a period when Spanish and European sculpture was in decline, with little innovation.[4] Due to changes of fashion, his work has now been largely forgotten, although it is still preserved in private collections and in public monuments such as San Lorenzo de El Escorial.[1]
Sample works
Ponzano created a large group The Flood for Francisco de Borja Queipo de Llano, 8th Count of Toreno. It depicts a naked man climbing with his mother carried on his shoulder to save her from the flood.[2] The facade of the Congress of Deputies centers on a sculpture of Spain embracing the constitutional state, represented by a woman with her arm around a young girl. Surrounding the pair are figures that represent in allegorical form Justice and Peace, Science, Agriculture, Fine Arts, Navigation, Industry, Commerce and so on. He also executed two bronze lions for the building's access stairway in a more realistic manner.[4] Ponzano made the tympanum of the portal for the church of St. Jerome in neo-medieval style. He was also responsible for decorating the auditorium of the Central University at San Bernardo in Madrid.[2] The
Gallery
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Partial view of the main façade of theCongress of Deputiesin Madrid. Tympanum was sculpted in Carrara marble by Ponciano Ponzano in 1864.
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Detail of one of the two bronze lions outside the Spanish Congress of Deputies building, in Madrid
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Detail of one of the two bronze lions outside the Congress of Deputies of Spain building
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Detail of the main façade of the Spanish Congress of Deputies building (Madrid), by architect Narciso Pascual y Colomer
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Joint mausoleum in Madrid of six Spanish Liberal Politicians:Salustiano Olózaga. The sculpture of Liberty at the top by Ponciano Ponzano
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Mariano Lagasca y Segura(1776–1839) at the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
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Mariano Lagasca y Segura (1776–1839) at the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
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One of the two bronze lions outside the Spanish Congress of Deputies building
References
- ^ a b c "PONCIANO PONZANO (1813-1877)". LOGI (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ a b c d e f "Biografía y obra de Ponciano Ponzano". ArtEEspanA (in Spanish). Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (France), Société des artistes français, Société nationale des beaux-arts (France) (1855). Explication des ouvrages de peinture, sculpture, architecture, gravure, dessins, modeles (in French). Veuve Hérissany. p. 73.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c "Ponzano y Gascón, Ponciano". Gran Enciclopedia Aragonesa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2012-05-28.
- ^ "Ponzano y Gascón, Ponciano". Masde Arte (in Spanish). Retrieved 2012-05-27.
- ^ "Teatro Lope de Vega". Info Vallodilid (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-10.