*** Star Tourist Sight

Statue of Philip IV, Madrid

The bronze baroque Statue of Philip IV stands at the centre of the Plaza de Oriente facing out across Madrid from the Palacio Real de Madrid. Though there are many bronze statues throughout the world the Statue of Philip IV is unique as it is both a masterpiece of mathematics and the arts.

The statue was commission by Philip IV (1605 –1665) the then king of Spain to stand in the centre of the Parque del Retiro park.

The initial design was draw by Diego Velázquez, the Spanish royal court’s artist, who based the design on one of his most famous paintings. The complication with Velázquez design was that the horse was rearing up as if in a battle charge. The problem for the sculpture was that the entire weight of the statue would be through the rear legs a unique position for an equestrian statue.

In our present day we are used to monuments formed around a steel structure but in the 17 century it was thought an impossible mathematical puzzle to support a 9 tone weight through the relatively weak bronze metal. Pietro Tacca an Italian sculptor concluded that the statue was possible but it required the mathematical genius of Galileo to perform the calculations regarding force and weight to prevent the statue toppling on itself.

The original calculations and hand draw plans penned by Galileo are still in existence and on display in Italy. The solution that keeps the Statue of Philip IV upright is by position of the centre of gravity as far back as possible. There statue is constructed from two distinct sections; the rear of the horse is solid bronze with the majority of the weight while the front is hollow.

The precise weights and forces were determined by Galileo who proclaimed it would stand forever and the statue is still standing till this day. Pietro Tacca started the sculpture in 1634 and was completed 6 years later in 1640. Pietro Tacca died soon after and this was his last piece of commissioned work, which many suggest as his finest.

The achievements both artistically and mathematically were lost on Philip IV, when he first saw the statue of himself he proclaimed to dislike it and that the face was completely wrong. The statue of Philip IV was decapitated for 6 months while a new head was fashioned to the approval of the King.

The statue of Philip IV was originally positioned in the grounds of the Parque del Retiro but moved to the Plaza de Oriente in 1843. The Statue now stands in the centre of one of Madrid's most pleasant and relaxing plazas. The statue of Philip IV in Madrid is classified as being designed in the baroque style of design.

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