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Month: September 2008

257. urbano domecq

Urbano Domecq, Recoleta Cemetery

Usually lost in the shadows, the Urbano Domecq vault contains one of the few references in the cemetery to the upper-class sport of polo. Gaining popularity during the 1920s & 1930s, matches would draw crowds of over 25,000 people to the Campo Argentino de Polo in Buenos Aires. At the same time, creation of the prestigious Cup of the Americas tournament gave world-wide recognition to Argentine polo players. Adolfo certainly liked the game with plaques from two different clubs where he played:

Urbano Domecq, Recoleta Cemetery

Urbano Domecq, Recoleta Cemetery

The interior contains three panels of stained glass:

Urbano Domecq, Recoleta Cemetery

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254. sebastián perelli ◊

Sebastián Perelli, Recoleta Cemetery

Artist José F.M. Garzia—who designed the Cisnetto Olivera vault in the previous post—also went a bit on the wild side with the tomb of Sebastián Perelli. Completely eclectic, Neoclassical elements mix with Art Nouveau in a big way:

Sebastián Perelli, Recoleta Cemetery

Garzia’s signature can be found by the lower left corner of the door:

Sebastián Perelli, Recoleta Cemetery

The interior is equally interesting & just as extreme as the exterior:

Sebastián Perelli, Recoleta Cemetery

Sebastián Perelli, Recoleta Cemetery

Update (02 Oct 2011): After a recent trip to San Miguel de Tucumán, I discovered that the bronze urns & light fixtures surrounding the Casa de Gobierno were also designed by José F.M. Garzia:

Argentina, San Miguel de Tucumán, Casa de Gobierno, José F.M. Garzia

Like Art Nouveau? Learn about the architects of the era, their individual styles & what makes Art Nouveau in Buenos Aires so unique with a 33-page guide from our sister site, Endless Mile.

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253. cisnetto olivera ◊

Ginormous. No other word can describe the guardian angel watching over the entrance of the Cisnetto Olivera tomb. Easily standing three meters tall, the statue’s height is even more imposing viewed from the narrow walkways of the cemetery:

Cisnetto Olivera, Recoleta Cemetery

José F.M. Garzia’s signature is equally large, but L. Fontana & Scarabelli are listed as the sculptors on the right-hand side of the mausoleum:

Cisnetto Olivera, Recoleta Cemetery

Cherubs floating in the heavens decorate the door:

Cisnetto Olivera, Recoleta Cemetery

Cisnetto Olivera, Recoleta Cemetery

Carlos Cisnetto Olivera graduated from the University of Buenos Aires as one of the first civil engineers.

Update (02 Oct 2011): After a recent trip to San Miguel de Tucumán, I discovered that the bronze urns & light fixtures surrounding the Casa de Gobierno were made by José F.M. Garzia as well:

Argentina, San Miguel de Tucumán, Casa de Gobierno, José F.M. Garzia

Update (27 Aug 2022): According to comments left in 2013, Garzia was only the smelter. While we’ve not been able to confirm, the Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Históricas de Rafaela —a small town in the province of Santa Fe— recently published the following photos they claim to be of a mausoleum in Recoleta for Guillermo Lehmann in 1912:

Argentina, mausoleo, sculpture, Guillermo Lehmann

They also state that the sculpture was designed by Luis Fontana & Juan Scarabelli from the city of Rosario… but will not name the source. As Marcelo said, “It’s not like this is a matter of national security.” 😉 Lehmann founded Rafaela in 1881 & was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in a hotel in Buenos Aires in 1886… apparently suicide. His widow wanted Lehmann to be buried in Recoleta Cemetery, so she purchased a plot & had this mausoleum built. Later his remains would be transferred to a family tomb in the city of Esperanza & then to two locations in Rafaela.

A couple of things still don’t fit. Cisnetto Olivera died in 1918, so was Lehmann only in Recoleta for six years before moving? Seems a little ridiculous considering what this mausoleum must have cost. Also, if you compare the black & white photo to the current statue, they aren’t the same. Almost but not quite. For example, the drape of the dress around the tip of the sword is different. So are the final feathers on the top wing. The face doesn’t look the same either. Who made the final changes? When did Lehmann leave? Marcelo is working on it…

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