Gate of Alcala. Madrid. 17 x 12 x 10 cm

Description

Model of the Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid, made of stone reconstituted with resin.

Measurements: 17 x 12 x 10 cm.

Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid. This representative monument of the Spanish capital was built between 1776 and 1778 by the Italian architect Francisco Sabatini.

The reason why the monarch Charles III commissioned its construction was none other than to provide the city with an entrance near the Retiro Garden and the Salón del Prado that would be in keeping with the status of the inhabitants of the area, as this was where many of Madrid’s nobility lived. The gate was designed in the style favoured by the king, the late Baroque, and based on such an obvious model as the Roman triumphal arch.

However, the final result is far removed from the military character of the Roman construction, which is only reminiscent of the sculptural groups carved by Roberto Michel (1720-1786) and Francisco Gutiérrez (1727-1782) in white stone from Colmenar, as the civic and courtly character of the city and of the period takes precedence. In short, it is an emblematic building that is suited to its function, with two different façades, one facing the city and the other overlooking the countryside. On the latter, welcoming travellers, is the inscription: REGE CAROLO III / ANNO / MDCCLXXVIII.