The Lady of Elche is a historical legend… and feminine beauty

The exhibition embarks on a historical journey from its discovery to the present. August 4, 1897as the treatment universal culture iconconverting stamp appearance of the ilicitana community or any publication. a review on documents, objects, photographs and press clippingsto the importance of the Iberian bust symbolnot only in its historical context, but also in its cultural and female beauty symbolstill in existence, and its mythification process. In fact, in one of the magazines on display, the artist said, Salvador DaliIn one article, he calls the Lady of Elche: “the most beautiful woman in the world”While “a symbol of feminine and human beauty”, it can also be seen in other publications. some polls have placed him above flesh and blood women; what else, Voted the most beautiful in Spain in 2006, surpassing celebrities like Elsa Pataky or Pilar Rubio on the list. “The Lady Elche has not left anyone indifferent, neither when they took her out, nor throughout all these years,” sums up the exhibition’s curator, Ana Ronda. “It always hints, it always reveals, it personifies something that is yours, very much our own,” she added. You can also see one in the example reproduction of the “coloured” Lady of Elche, with pigmentation considered original.

But, without a doubt, one of the biggest attractions of the show, original manuscripts historian of ilicitano Peter Ibarra About the moment when the Lady of Elche was discovered, “Ilicitano identity symbol”. It is a hitherto unpublished document of Ibarra, the family of the then owners of Alcudia. He “writes” the moment the bust was discovered, adding press clippings he collected, photographs and objects, and his own sketches, and combining them into a book that saw the public light for the first time.. this Ramos familyowner of the deposit until sold to the UA, and La Alcudia University Archaeological Research Foundationtemporarily transferred these unpublished manuscripts that were part of his book. private collection and this has not been made public until now. They’re part of the archaeologist’s legacy to his family. Alejandro Ramos Folques founded in 1948 La Alcudia Monographic Museum after findings found on the family farm years ago. Ramos Folqués has been conducting archaeological excavations in this area since 1935. The exhibition reveals the evolution of this museum until today with photographs. “The Lady of Elche is our most impressive and important introduction in Spanish archaeology. forks the most beautiful piece“The most beautiful woman in our history,” said the director of archaeologist La Alcudia. Alexander RamosGrandson of Alejandro Ramos Folqués.

This example provides documentation for: Lady’s stay at the Louvre Museum in Parisuntil In 1941, as a result of an agreement between Franco and the French government, he returned to Spain, through the exchange of works of art. this Franco used this Iberian symbol as a patriotic symbol. to have this image. “This is not only an iconic and essential part of Iberian art, but also id iconThe exhibition’s curator, Ana Ronda, endorsed Ana Ronda, recalling that Mistress facilitated the Inheritance Act in 1911 and “appropriated” her image as a Spanish woman after returning from Paris.

The piece arrived in Paris just 15 days after its discovery. doctor Manuel Campello and Antonthen the owner of the land where the Lady of Elche is, The bust was sold for 4,000 francs. (5,200 pesetas at the time) to French Hispanist Pierre Parisgoing to Elche on the occasion of the celebration Elx’s Mystery, something Pedro Ibarra never understood. so lady almost 44 years in “exile”. From 1941 until thirty years later it was in the Prado Museum in Madrid. National Archaeological Museum, where it still remains, leaving the capital of Spain and becoming one of its most distinguished parts. The city is making every effort to get the bust back to where it was 125 years ago. But the Minister of Culture, miquel icetalast week once again denied the extradition of the Iberian bust to the country that discovered it, based on the 2005 report. The exhibition also aims to justify it. “He is the one whose roots are absolute with the soil he was born”said Ronda.

exhibition, which Can be visited until 30 SeptemberIt also displays small memorabilia such as: pins, coins or stamps as well as lottery tickets where the image of the Iberian bust is used, which is still It has territory from La Alcudia tied to its backas explained by Ana Ronda, who values ​​the use she has cinerary urn. University of Alicante research vice-chancellor, John MoraHe recalled that the UA has made a strong commitment to transform the La Alcudia region “a heritage center of national and international reference in archaeological teaching and research, but also in the cultural and tourist promotion of the Valencian Community”. The Vice-Chancellor stressed only fifteen percent of the site has been excavated. “This presents us with the exciting challenge of uncovering much of the history. illici These data, and the results of research conducted in recent years, “suggest that there is much more to La Alcudia than the Lady of Elche,” he said.

The date was on August 4, 1897, when young people Manuel Campello discovered the bust of the Lady of Elche doing farm work A few kilometers from the city center of Elche, where La Alcudia is now located. 125 years later still a Historical symbol of Spanish identity and female beauty.