Monument to Francisco de Quevedo Audio guide

A literary monument in the urban landscape

The monument to Francisco de Quevedo is one of the striking examples of public art in Madrid. It is dedicated to one of the most important authors of the Spanish Baroque and at the same time recalls the way a modern commemorative space was being created in the city at the beginning of the 20th century. The work was created by the sculptor Agustin Querol.

Composition and materials

The central figure is Quevedo in full length, executed in Carrara marble. He wears the Cross of Saint James on his chest, and his appearance corresponds to the traditional iconographic depiction of the author with his distinctive glasses, which have become part of his visual identity. The pedestal was originally made of Novelda limestone and supplemented with four allegorical statues representing Satire, Poetry, Prose, and History. Later, because of erosion, it was replaced by a copy made of Atarce stone.

Unveiling and relocations

The monument was ceremonially unveiled on June 5, 1902, in Alonso Martinez Square. It was part of a broader series of Madrid sculptural celebrations held on the occasion of Alfonso XIII coming of age, when a number of monuments to important figures in Spanish history and culture were created in the city. In the 1960s, the monument was moved to its present location on Quevedo Roundabout. Around 1999, a fountain made of Badajoz granite was also installed, adding a new urban element to the composition.