In 1927, Anna Hyatt Huntington’s monumental bronze equestrian sculpture of El Cid Campeador was installed on Audubon Terrace in front of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. It depicts Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (ca. 1043 – 1099), better known as El Cid, a Spanish warrior who played a key role in the Reconquista and is considered a national hero in Spain. Since its installation, Huntington’s statue has become an unofficial symbol of the Hispanic Society, providing a beacon for visitors to the museum, and recently inspiring a sculptural intervention by the Brazilian contemporary artist Adriana Varejão.
In advance of the 100th anniversary of the sculpture’s installation, the Hispanic Society is embarking on a much-needed program of conservation and restoration of Huntington’s work. Be a champion for El Cid by supporting the project at the form below.
