The Monumento a Máximo Gómez is located in the Parque Mártires
del 71, on the Malecón (Avenida del Puerto), just before the
entrance of the tunnel (Túnel de la
Bahía).
The monumental sculptural complex is one
of the giant memorials in Havana. It was erected to pay
homage to Máximo Gómez Báez (1836-1905), the venerated
Commander in Chief of the Cuba’s Liberation Army during the
Wars of Independence in the 19th century.
HISTORY
At the beginning of the 20th century, the
statues of some heroes of Cuba were erected, such as José Martí in the Central Park (1905) and Antanio Maceo in
Malecón (1916), within the scope of the project to beautify
the city, particularly to embellish the coastline of Havana,
and to pay tribute to the distinguished figures of the
Liberation Army. In 1916, an international contest was held
to choose the best project about a monument of Máximo Gómez
Báez that would be erected in a park, occupying a large area
along the Malecón close to the Castillo de la Punta, between
the Monserrate (or Avenida de las Misiones; current Avenida
Bélgica) and the Zulueta streets (current Agramonte street).
200.000 pesos was endowed for the winner.
During the period of 1916-1919, when
the call was open, forty artists applied, among them many
renowned sculptors, such as the American Gutzon
Borglum, the Czech Mario
Korbel, the Spanish Moisés
de Huerta and the Cuban architect and sculptor Felix
Cabarrocas, together with the young and almost
unknown Italian Aldo
Gamba. They presented their projects in the municipal
hospital General Freyre de Andrade, the so-called Emergency
Hospital, on Avenida de Carlos III.
Contrary to the expectations, the jury
agreed on the project of
José Ramón Villalón,
the civil engineer and the Secretary of the Public Works.
The decision of the jury generated a big discussion, because
the Asociación Cubana de Pintores y Escultores (Cuban
Association of Painters and Sculptores), having received the
support of the press, was insisting on the project of Aldo
Gambo to be the best. Some people stood up for Moisés de
Huerta and Felix
Cabarrocas. Finally, the discussion submitted to the
House of Representatives that abolished the ruling. At
the recommendation of the lawyers,
Aldo Gamba filed a
suit so that after procedural delays the court confirmed his
legitimacy. Aldo Gamba is known by several
sculptures, but the most famous one is the Fuente de las
Musas (Fountain of the Muses) or Fuente de las Ninfas
(Fountain of the Nymphs) that stands at the entrance of the
Cabaret Tropicana in Havana.
Even though the opening of the monument
was planned for the year 1925, on the 20th anniversary of
the death of Máximo Gómez, it was unveiled in 1935, on the
99th anniversary of his birth, after almost 20 years of
launching the initial idea, because of the indolence of the
governments, the economic crisis and the political
atmosphere on the island.
The 22-meters high neoclassical sculptural
complex, consisting of the bronze statue and the white
marble base, can be approached as three well-defined parts:
the temple, the body, and the base.
The base of the monument rests on a
platform with multiple low steps that are replaced by a wide
water pool in front of the monument. The base has a
quadrangular shape with lateral facades, adorned with
continuous bas-reliefs. The bas-reliefs on the right side of
the base represent the peasants, offering all what they owe,
for the fight a free homeland. At the bas-reliefs on the
left side of the base, only women are figured. They are in a
procession, holding their children in their arms, and they
seem to be ready to hand them over to the libertarian power.
In front of the base, there is a triumphal arch in
semicircular shape, from that three spirited horses with
three female figures, made of granite, emerge and their
bodies unit into a singular sculptural group. This high
relief symbolizes the national aurora, completing the theme
of the side reliefs that reflect the contribution and
sacrifice of the Cuban people for their homeland. The
pouring water that arises from the horses, fills the water
pool in front of the monument. The interior of the base is a
mausoleum that contains the remains of Máximo Gómez. The
crypt can be accessed through the door at the backside of
the base, but it is locked and closed to the public.
The body of the monument is surrounded with high reliefs that represent the freedom of Cuba. The reliefs are in figure of nude males marching on foot or on horseback, followed by women and children that carry flowers. They all are celebrating the triumph. The men represent the liberating army, and they are directed by a figure of a winged woman that is in forefront. This image is inspired by Victory of Samothrace, a famous winged statue of the second century BC, found in Samothrace island of Greece (Semadirek island in Ottoman time) and currently located on one of the most magnificent staircases of the Louvre Museum in Paris. It had been erected by the Macedonian General Demetrius Poliorcetes after his naval victory at Cyprus. The figure of victory of the monument carries a lighted torch in the right hand, symbolizing the freedom, while it wields and olive branch with the left hand, symbolizing the peace. At the back of the body a seated matron is placed on a pedestal, above the door of the crypt. It is in the custody of the crypt and represents the motherland.
The uppermost part of the base of the
monument is in the shape of a temple, inspired by the Temple
of Fatherland in Rome, Italy. The Altare della Patria (Altar
of the Fatherland), also known as the Monumento
Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument to
Victor Emmanuel II) is a monument built in honor of Victor
Emmanuel, the first king of the unified Italy. The rectangular
temple is supported by 14 Doric columns, made of white
marble. On the alter in the columned construction, there is
an eternal flame to recall the memory of Máximo Gómez. In
the 20th century the style and the motives of the European
architecture, particularly the Italian creativity in
sumptuous monuments, were used extensively in their works,
made by Carrera marble.
The granite statue of Máximo Gómez is one
the best equestrian statues in Havana. He is represented
sitting on a horse that has all its legs resting on the
ground, while its head and neck are extended forward. In
accordance with the condition of the contest, the sculptor
addressed on the natural death of Máximo Gómez after the war
was over, as the image is different than the other
equestrian statues in that the steed rears up. He is wearing
a campaign uniform, and holds a hat in his right hand. His
saber is in his belt. He is beholding the horizon proudly as
an exemplary warrior.
The monument is surrounded by a park,
called Parque Mártires del 71 in memoriam of the execution
of the eight medical students in 1871. The western part of
the park is called the Parque de los Enamorados. During the
construction of the tunnel (Túnel de la Bahía), the park was
demolished and re-build on a much smaller scale. The busy
avenues around the park makes the access to the monument
difficult, but it doesn’t diminish the beauty of the
impressive work.
