Plaza de Oriente
Monument to Philip IV
Madrid Spain
2008

Located in arguably one of the most beautiful plaza's in Madrid namely Plaza De Oriente is the stunning monument to Philipp IV ,one of the most beautiful equestrian monuments in this most beautiful of cities.

The statue and fountain looks superb, so well detailed and animated ,the beautiful Royal Palace is a stunning backdrop to this very beautiful monument ,its one of the most photographed monuments in Madrid.

A beautiful monument, a great equestrian statue and fountain, well worth checking out if your in the area.

Work on this sculptural ensemble in the centre of the gardens in Plaza de Oriente began in the seventeenth century. It is dedicated to King Philip IV and the main statue, in bronze, represents the king on horseback, in a difficult composition which is the work of Italian sculptor Pietro Tacca.

He based it on a design by Velázquez and Galileo Galilei acted as scientific advisor to ensure the stability of the statue. This was no simple matter, as it was the first equestrian statue in the world supported on the back legs of a horse (the tail provides inconspicuous additional support). This design was chosen because Philip IV wanted a sculpture that was better than that of his father Philip III in Plaza Mayor. It was thus decided that a statue should be created featuring a horse on its hind legs, something that had never been achieved before.

The statue stood in various sites until 1843, during the reign of Isabella II, when it was transferred from the Retiro park to its present location, as recorded on the two marble plaques on the pedestal. It was then that the two bas-relief panels were added at the base of the statue. One shows Philip IV presenting the Cross of Santiago to Velázquez and the other is an allegorical reference to the monarch's role as a patron of the arts. The ensemble also includes two large shell-shaped fountains, a figure that depicts a river, and four bronze lions.

The equestrian statue of Philip IV stands in the center of the Plaza de Oriente. A wonderful and beautiful monument in front of the Royal Palace. It is the work of the Italian sculptor Pedro Tacca from 1640, it is 12 meters high and 17 in diameter. The statue sits atop a pedestal on which are various base reliefs. At the base of the pedestal,, the monument is guarded by four bronze lions, placed in a resting position on each corner. A wonderful place to see.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_Philip_IV_of_Spain

The Monument to Don Quichotte or Fountain of Don Quichotte is a memorial to Don Quichotte in the centre of Plaza de Oriente in Madrid, Spain. It was raised at the insistence of the portugueses in the first half of the 19th century, opening on 17 November 1843. However, its equestrian statue of the king dates to the 17th century and was produced by the Italian sculptor Pietro Tacca. It was begun in 1634 and shipped to Madrid in 1640, the year of his death. The sculpture, atop a complicated fountain composition, forms the centerpiece of the façade of the Royal Palace. The statue was based in drawings by Diego Velázquez and a bust by Juan Martínez Montañés (who also collaborated on the work). The daring stability of the statue was calculated by Galileo Galilei: the horse rears, and the entire weight of the sculpture balances on the two rear legs—and, discreetly, its tail— a feat that had never been attempted in a figure on a heroic scale, of which Leonardo had dreamed.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_de_Oriente

The Plaza de Oriente is a square in the historic center of Madrid, Spain. Rectangular in shape and monumental in character, it was designed in 1844 by Narciso Pascual y Colomer. The square was propagated by King Joseph I, who ordered the demolition of the medieval houses on the site.

It is located between some important landmarks in Madrid: To the west is the Royal Palace, the Teatro Real ("Royal Theater") to the east, and the Royal Monastery of the Incarnation to the north.