Statue of Diego de Vargas

Last updated
Don Diego de Vargas Zapata Luján Ponce de León, El Marques de la Nava de Barcinas
"de Vargas statue"
The statue, Don Diego de Vargas.jpg
The statue in 2016
Statue of Diego de Vargas
Subject Diego de Vargas
Location Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Coordinates 35°41′13″N105°56′09″W / 35.686939°N 105.935789°W / 35.686939; -105.935789 until 2020

A statue of Diego de Vargas made by Donna Quasthoff was installed in 2007 at the west end of Santa Fe, New Mexico's Cathedral Park, in the United States. The statue was removed in June 2020 for conservation concerns, and is now on display at the New Mexico History Museum. [1]

Contents

Description

Based on a portrait painting residing in Spain,[ citation needed ] the full-length statue depicts de Vargas wearing fur-lined clothing, holding a spear in his right hand and his cap in the left. A saber is in a scabbard around his hips, and his coat of arms is shown at his feet.

Controversy over storage and display

The statue was at the center of a controversy on where it has been stored and if it is being protected. In early February the statue was found in the backyard of a private residence home (which was not disclosed for privacy and safety concerns). [2] The mayor and city manager had been told that the statue was in a city facility. This has led to concerns that the statue was at risk of damage or vandalism.

Although there is a four-year agreement for display of the work at the New Mexico History Museum (spanning 2024-2028), the statue's long-term fate is currently being determined. Supporters of removal see the statue as a celebration of Spanish colonization, while supporters of the statue say it is a celebration of Spain and Hispanic heritage. Former Santa Fe mayoral candidate Ronald Trujillo has expressed interest in the statue being donated back to the Caballeros de Vargas which would then display it on their own property. This request has been supported by multiple members of the city council. Councilman Chris Rivera stated, "I would be in favor of that, especially if we can't take care of it". [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Fe de Nuevo México</span> Provincial kingdom of New Spain (1598–1821); territory of Mexico (1821–48)

Santa Fe de Nuevo México was a province of the Spanish Empire and New Spain, and later a territory of independent Mexico. The first capital was San Juan de los Caballeros from 1598 until 1610, and from 1610 onward the capital was La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asís.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zozobra</span> Giant marionette effigy burned annually in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Zozobra is a giant marionette effigy constructed of wood, wire and cotton cloth that is built and burned on the Friday of Labor Day weekend prior to the annual Fiestas de Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. It stands 50 ft. 6 in. high.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Cruz, New Mexico</span> CDP in New Mexico, United States

Santa Cruz, historically known as Santa Cruz de la Cañada, is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Santa Fe, New Mexico Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 423 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Española, New Mexico</span> City in New Mexico, United States

Española is a city primarily in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. A portion of the central and eastern section of the city is in Santa Fe County. Founded as a railroad village some distance from the old Indian town of San Juan de los Caballeros, it was named Española and officially incorporated in 1925. It has been called the first capital city in the United States. At the time of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 10,495. Española is within the Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Los Alamos combined statistical area.

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680, also known as Popé's Rebellion or Po'pay's Rebellion, was an uprising of most of the indigenous Pueblo people against the Spanish colonizers in the province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, larger than present-day New Mexico. Incidents of brutality and cruelty, coupled with persistent Spanish policies that stoked animosity, gave rise to the eventual Revolt of 1680. The persecution and mistreatment of Pueblo people who adhered to traditional religious practices was the most despised of these. The Spaniards were resolved to abolish "pagan" forms of worship and replace them with Christianity. The Pueblo Revolt killed 400 Spaniards and drove the remaining 2,000 settlers out of the province. The Spaniards returned to New Mexico twelve years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popé</span> Tewa religious leader (1630–1692)

Popé or Po'pay was a Tewa religious leader from Ohkay Owingeh, who led the Pueblo Revolt in 1680 against Spanish colonial rule. In the first successful revolt against the Spanish, the Pueblo expelled the colonists and kept them out of the territory for twelve years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiestas de Santa Fe</span> Festival held every autumn in Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.

Fiestas de Santa Fe is a festival held every autumn in Santa Fe, New Mexico, usually during the second week of September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Town Albuquerque</span> Historic townsite in New Mexico

Old Town is the historic original town site of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the provincial kingdom of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, established in 1706 by New Mexico governor Francisco Cuervo y Valdés. It is listed on the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties as the Old Albuquerque Historic District, and is protected by a special historic zoning designation by the city. However, prior to its establishment as a city in the Santa Fe de Nuevo México province, many indigenous tribes lived there including Diné, Pueblo, Apache, Tiwa, and others. The present-day district contains about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings surrounding Old Town Plaza. On the plaza's north side stands San Felipe de Neri Church, a Spanish colonial church constructed in 1793.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Miguel Mission</span> Historic adobe church

San Miguel Chapel, is a Spanish colonial mission church in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Originally built around 1610, it is often referred to as the oldest church building in the continental United States. The church was rebuilt twice, once in the mid to late 17th century, and again in 1710 following the Pueblo Revolt. In both cases earlier pieces of the building may have been reused, though it is unclear to what extent. The wooden reredos, which includes a wooden statue of Saint Michael dating back to at least 1709, was added in 1798.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego de Vargas</span> Spanish governor of New Mexico

Diego de Vargas Zapata y Luján Ponce de León y Contreras (1643–1704), commonly known as Don Diego de Vargas, was a Spanish Governor of the New Spain territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. He was the title-holder in 1690–1695, and effective governor in 1692–1696 and 1703–1704. He is known for leading the reconquest of the territory in 1692 following the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. This reconquest is commemorated annually during the Fiestas de Santa Fe in the city of Santa Fe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Fe, New Mexico</span> Capital city of New Mexico, United States

Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Santa Fe County. With over 89,000 residents, Santa Fe is the fourth-most populous city in the state, and part of the Albuquerque–Santa Fe–Los Alamos combined statistical area, which had a population of 1,162,523 in 2020. Situated at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the city is at the highest altitude of any U.S. state capital, with an elevation of 7,199 feet.

Félix Martínez de Torrelaguna was acting Governor of New Mexico from 1715 to 1716.

Juan Páez Hurtado was a Spanish official. He was Captain General, Governor and Mayor of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Webber</span> American entrepreneur and politician

Alan M. Webber is an American entrepreneur, author, publisher, and politician serving as the 43rd mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico, since 2018.

George Abrán Gonzales was an American politician, musician, and broadcaster who served as the mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico, from 1968 to 1972. Gonzales, who was 30 years old at the time of the 1968 mayoral election, became the youngest mayor in Santa Fe's history. Gonzales is the father of Santa Fe's 42nd mayor, Javier Gonzales, who served from 2014 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Conquistadora</span>

La Conquistadora is a small wooden statue of the Madonna and Child now in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was the first Madonna brought to what is now the United States. The statuette is carved out of wood, and measures approximately three feet in height. A Catholic confraternity called, La Cofradía de La Conquistadora, exists to “promote devotion to the Mother of God under the title of La Conquistadora – Our Lady of Peace, and for the upkeep and maintenance of both of her chapels at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Rosario Chapel”. This confraternity is also responsible for maintaining the icon's chapel located in the north transept of the Basilica. The icon is dressed by the sacristana, or sacristan who maintains the vast wardrobe that includes clothing, veils, crowns, jewels and wigs. Cancer survivors often donate hair for use in fashioning wigs worn by the statue. The garments that the icon is clothed in are often sewn and donated by the faithful; all are rich in detail and very fine, often with elaborate designs. The estimate of her total outfits is close to 300. Even non-Catholics find occasion to honor the statue. For example, actress Ali MacGraw commissioned a piece that was displayed at Santa Fe's Spanish Colonial Museum in an exhibit about the icon mounted during 2010. The statue's origins are not well-known, but the 15th and 17th centuries are the most likely possibilities. Her arrival into America was made possible by the Spanish, who carried several versions of The Virgin Mary with them on their travels. There is a long history of armies carrying statues of saints into battle, for various purposes. Although the exact date of the statue's arrival in the New World is unknown, the Madonna was brought to New Mexico via Mexico City by priest Fray Alonso de Benavides, arriving in Santa Fe on January 25, 1626. Benavides wrote about this date in his journal, but the Archdiocese commonly uses the date of 1625. La Conquistadora was originally known as Our Lady of the Assumption.

José Naranjo was a Puebloan of partial African ancestry who served the Spanish government of New Mexico. His father may have helped lead the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and Naranjo initially opposed co-operation with the Spanish, successfully escaping from Spanish custody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrian statue of Juan de Oñate</span> Statue owned by Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, U.S.

An equestrian statue of Juan de Oñate formerly stood in Alcalde, New Mexico, in the United States. Installed as part of a project to honor Hispanic culture, the monument was removed in June 2020 amid the George Floyd protests. It was situated outside the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Center in Alcalde, New Mexico from 1994 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soldiers' Monument (Santa Fe, New Mexico)</span> Monument in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Soldiers' Monument is a cenotaph at the center of the Santa Fe Plaza, a monument collectively memorializing deaths in several specified battles. It is obscured from public view and access by concreteboard walls used as a preservation measure. Erected during the late 1860s in the aftermath of the American Civil War, it consisted of a 33 feet (10 m) stone obelisk atop a plinth; only the plinth stands currently, and exhibits some damage. During the late nineteenth century, the monument was used as a place for Union veterans to gather at annual Memorial Day events to decorate the cenotaph and hear brief presentations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astialakwa</span> Former village of the ancestral Puebloan people

Astialakwa was a prehistoric and historic village built by the ancestral Puebloan people located within the Astialakwa Archeological District, in an area now known as the Jemez Springs area of Northern New Mexico. The archeological area is on the National Register of Historic Places. The location is restricted from access.

References

  1. Chacón, Daniel J. (2020-06-23). "De Vargas statue removed; overnight attempt to move Plaza obelisk fails". Santa Fe New Mexican . Archived from the original on 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  2. Thomas, Sean P. (15 February 2021). "Don Diego de Vargas statue found in backyard of home/business". Santa Fe New Mexican. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  3. Thomas, Sean P. (15 February 2021). "Don Diego de Vargas statue found in backyard of home/business". Santa Fe New Mexican. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.