Category: Civil Architecture > Memorial
District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Santa Maria Maior
The equestrian statue of Dom José I stands majestically in the Praça do Comércio, one of Lisbon's most emblematic urban spaces, situated in the Santa Maria Maior district. This monumental square, open to the Tagus River, serves as a symbolic gateway to the Portuguese capital, offering a unique perspective of the city to those observing it from the riverside.
The monument, inaugurated on June 6, 1775, on the monarch's birthday, is the first equestrian statue erected in Portugal. It is also the first public statue of a king in life in the country and the first bronze piece cast in Portugal, being considered Lisbon's oldest public statue. Its creation was the responsibility of the renowned sculptor Joaquim Machado de Castro.
This imposing statue was erected twenty years after the devastating earthquake of 1755, which virtually destroyed Lisbon. Its presence in the formerly designated Terreiro do Paço, renamed Praça do Comércio after the catastrophe, symbolizes the city's vision and resilience. The monument, commissioned by the Marquis of Pombal, reflects the reorganization and modernization of Portugal, representing the capacity for overcoming adversity.
At the base of the pedestal, reliefs can be observed depicting allegorical figures such as Royal Generosity, Government of the Republic, Love of Virtue, Commerce, Providence, and Architecture, which symbolize the pillars of the capital's reconstruction. The statue also includes serpents crushed by the king's horse, alluding to the enemies and obstacles faced during Dom José I's reign.
With approximately 6.93 meters in height, the statue was a feat of casting for its time. The horse, depicted in bronze, is a composite of various Lusitano breeds observed by the sculptor, demonstrating his attention to equestrian detail. Curiously, the hands holding the horse's reins are actually Machado de Castro's own hands, which he used as a model.
The statue's orientation, with the king serenely looking towards the Tagus estuary, is not arbitrary. It highlights Portugal's maritime vocation and serves as a visual invitation to visitors arriving in the city by river, presenting the square as its "entrance hall." The king, dressed in armor and a plumed helmet, is depicted as a military leader commanding the city, embodying his majesty and power.
The statue underwent careful restoration work between 2012 and 2013, which helped preserve its integrity and beauty, enhancing the details in bronze and the lioz stone used for the pedestal.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.70752282037, -9.1364678055556
Coordinates DMS: 38°42'27.1"N 09°08'11.3"W