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Luperón embodied, more so than any other
figure, the virtues that allowed the Dominican
people to emerge victorious from the great trials
of their history [...] the leader of the Restoration
shall always be in the memories of successive
Dominican generations, as an authentic prod-
uct of the people [...] the moral forces that have
always allowed Dominicans to overcome their
bitterest misfortunes, and to decisively van-
quish their most persistent oppressors, and who
achieved a miracle of August 1, 1863, so that an
epic without peer could be realized in which
almost the entire nation descended into confla-
gration and where thousands of men from the
two opposing sides lost their lives (
Listín Diario
,
August 17, 1971, pp.1 and 4).
At end of the commemoration, following the
speech and the placement of floral offerings, a
mixed brigade of the Armed Forces held a military
parade.
Shortly after the ceremony held in Santo Do-
mingo, a similar commemorative act took place in
the city of Puerto Plata on September 8, 1971—the
inauguration of the Malecon Gregorio Luperón and
the equestrian statue of the hero, a ceremony graced
by the presence of President Balaguer; the Civil
Governor of the province; the Municipal Trustee
and President of the City Council; other members;
representatives of civic and cultural institutions;
members of the National Development Commis-
sion; representatives of the Legislative Chambers;
battalions of the Armed Forces; and the Presidential
Guard in full uniform—on a day that declared popu-
lar rejoicing in the province of Puerto Plata. The Organizing Committee of the event issued a public invitation
to encourage attendance and in hope of a large audience:
The Organizing Committee invites all to the glorious tribute that will be paid to the distinguished Gen-
eral Gregorio Luperón in the city of Puerto Plata, on September 8, 1971, by order of His Excellency,
the Constitutional President of the Republic, Dr. Joaquín Balaguer. It is also our pleasure to INVITE all
the people in Puerto Rico, as well as all admirers of the renowned hero, and the people of the Republic,
to the act of unveiling of his equestrian statue and the inauguration of the beautiful seaside promenade
that bears his glorious name (
Listín Diario
, Tuesday, September 7, 1971, 4-A).
Both of the aforementioned sculptures are by Nicola Arrighini. They are cast in bronze and correspond
to a model that had been quite popular in public statuary since ancient times. The model was employed to
honor the memory of great historical figures, as can be seen today in the work commemorating Emperor Mar-
The bronze statue of
Gregorio Luperón,
by the Italian Nicola
Arrighini, positioned
outside the Monument
for the Heroes of
the Restoration
in Santiago de los
Caballeros.
© Fausto Ortiz
ITALIAN SCULPTORS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC