Location:
Plaza San Martín, Santa Fe Av. Esmeralda, Arenales, Maipú,
Libertador Av.
And
San Martín Streets - Retiro
The
monument to General San Martin to the Independence Armies is an
equestrian monument honouring the Argentine National Hero General
San Martin and to four landmarks related to Peru´s Independence, the
Battle of Salta and the taking of Montevideo. It was made in bronze
atop polished red granite.
San
Martin on his horse was the first equestrian monument in Argentina
unveiled in 1862 and made by the French sculpture Louis Joseph
Daumas. The bronze works around the base were made by German Gustavo
Eberlein and were unveiled in 1910. Daumas based his work on a
portrait of the flag that the General’s daughter, Mercedes, had in
France showing young San Martin. He appears clean-shaven, his curved
saber and his saddle are loyal copies as his family had kept them
after his death. He looks serene, his extended arms pointing the way
ahead.
The
works by Eberlein who was a romantic sculptor are made of red dragon
polished granite. The features represented are:
·
The
departure of the Army
·
The
Battle
·
Victory
·
The
return of the Army
At
the front of the tree and bows of the saddle and under the
equestrian figures the God Mars can be seen holding a Condor with
his left leg, representing “Victory”.
There are also raised works from the base which refer to three of
the most important battles San Martin fought: San Lorenzo, Chacabuco
and Maipu. And the base of the pillar plinth there are four raised
works showing the crossing of the Andes, the proclamation of Peru’s
Independence, the Battle of Salta and the taking of Montevideo.
There are also a few more adornments joining the raised works the
granite sections.