O Cebreiro aqua-lady statute...research help, request

[Artful-Chick]

I've been blogging/writing about my 2019 Camino Frances journey, for friends and fellow pilgrims who have cancelled (had to or chose to) their 2020 trip.
When we reached O'Cebreiro (by horse) I spied this statute, after our lunch with Victor, I went back and took photos, however, I haven't been able to find any information on the statute. I have woven her into my story - but reluctant to use the photo without known something about her origins. Hoping someone has some info...

 

[SabsP]

Here you go. Some quick googling.

| Camino de Santiago. Guía definitiva: etapas, albergues, rutas

La Editorial Buen Camino trabaja en informar al futuro peregrino del Camino de Santiago mediante guías especializadas, apps y webs.

www.editorialbuencamino.com

Obra Pública | Miguel Couto | Escultor

 

[Artful-Chick]

Here you go. Some quick googling.

| Camino de Santiago. Guía definitiva: etapas, albergues, rutas

La Editorial Buen Camino trabaja en informar al futuro peregrino del Camino de Santiago mediante guías especializadas, apps y webs.

www.editorialbuencamino.com

Obra Pública | Miguel Couto | Escultor

Thanks, SabineP - alas this refers to a bronze statute representing pilgrims - appreciate your help, thanks

 

[SabsP]

Thanks, SabineP - alas this refers to a bronze statute representing pilgrims - appreciate your help, thanks

Same pic though but taken from a different angle.

 

[wayfarer]

Yes, same photo, different angle, you can even see the rucksack straps in the OP's photo.

 

[Kathar1na]

O'Cebreiro aqua-lady statute

One might think that it is a mermaid but what I see is a young pilgrim woman with a backpack, not wearing boots or shoes, with her legs/feet over each other in a casual or playful resting position. Also, there are no myths or legends or anything that could be related to the figure. It is a modern statue in honour of contemporary pilgrims.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Thanks, SabineP - alas this refers to a bronze statute representing pilgrims - appreciate your help, thanks

Bronze plus weather equals green

 

[Kathar1na]

Bronze plus weather equals green

And I learnt today that it is common to artificially create a green patina on bronze statues, or even a different coloured patina. Apparently, one reason is the desire to protect the statue from the weather and from corrosion thanks to this deliberately accelerated patina process. This forum is a constant fountain of new knowledge.

@SabineP's link informs us that the pilgrim statue of O Cebreiro was put in place as recently as April 2018.

 

[Kathar1na]

The model for the pilgrim sculpture of O Cebreiro is the dancer Inés Vieites from the dancing company Nova Galega de Danza.

Originally, the statue was meant to carry a traditional walking stick over her shoulder but the artist decided against it. To break with stereotyping. That is also the reason why the statue is a woman and not a man. The overwhelming majority of contemporary pilgrim sculptures are male - not a reflection of reality as the composition of pilgrims is currently nearly evenly split between 50% men and 50% women.

It was commissioned and cost 30,000 €. Paid by the town of Pedrafita to which O Cebreiro belongs and by regional administration.

The artist decided against showing a walking pilgrim and opted for a pilgrim who rests and enjoys her surroundings. He would like to put the same pilgrim sculpture in other places, for examples in Roncesvalles and in Santiago de Compostela, but in a different posture than at O Cebreiro.

The statue already had a green patina when it was installed in 2018.

Article from May 2018:
O Cebreiro rompe estereotipos con la primera escultura de una peregrina
O Cebreiro breaks stereotypes with the first sculpture of a female pilgrim (machine translation)

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

Another photo from our camino last fall. Bob

 

[malingerer]

Another photo from our camino last fall. Bob

I was wondering if someone had nicked her tail and she is actually from Copenhagen?

samarkand.

 

[Cayou]

This was in Le Puy last October, that makes at least 2 nice female statues

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Another photo from our camino last fall. Bob

She needs to slide forward a bit to be really comfortable @Kathar1na

 

[roamingpaddy]

What direction is she facing? Forward towards Santiago or back towards Navarra?

 

[Darby67]

What direction is she facing? Forward towards Santiago or back towards Navarra?

Facing roughly west

 

[Artful-Chick]

Thanks, @Kathar1na, for the explanation - @BROWNCOUNTYBOB for the photo from the other angle. @Kathar1na I initially had a few mermaid thoughts, more to do with the sculpture patina. Plus the feet definitely those of a ballet dancer. I love that the artist chose to depict a female pilgrim.

 

[roamingpaddy]

I will be saying "hola" to her in about 20 hours time

 

[Marbe2]

Here you go. Some quick googling.

| Camino de Santiago. Guía definitiva: etapas, albergues, rutas

La Editorial Buen Camino trabaja en informar al futuro peregrino del Camino de Santiago mediante guías especializadas, apps y webs.

www.editorialbuencamino.com

Obra Pública | Miguel Couto | Escultor

Thank you Sabine!

 

[Artful-Chick]

I will be saying "hola" to her in about 20 hours time

Are you going up the mountain on foot or horseback?

 

[roamingpaddy]

On foot,not I am here,arrived 2 am ,sleeping in church porch its lovely listening to the wind but i am snug enough

 

[Artful-Chick]

On foot,not I am here,arrived 2 am ,sleeping in church porch its lovely listening to the wind but i am snug enough

Hopefully, there was plenty of moonlight for your walk up the mountain.

 

[Harland2019]

I wouldn't bother saying "Hola" - she ignored me!

 

[camino.ninja]

The original is at Hotel Costa Vella in Santiago de Compostela:

Hotel Costa Vella

Accommodation in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

camino.ninja

The one on O Cebreiro is an enlarged replica. Replicas of the original can be purchaced for something like 450 euros at the hotel.

 

[David61]

I see so many pics posted here and think "How did I not see that?" and here is another!

 

[camino.ninja]

I see so many pics posted here and think "How did I not see that?" and here is another!

It is only one or two years old, the one on O Cebreiro

 

[David Tallan]

The original is at Hotel Costa Vella in Santiago de Compostela:

Hotel Costa Vella

Accommodation in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

camino.ninja

The one on O Cebreiro is an enlarged replica. Replicas of the original can be purchaced for something like 450 euros at the hotel.

Interesting. According to what we read above:

Originally, the statue was meant to carry a traditional walking stick over her shoulder but the artist decided against it. To break with stereotyping.

The one in the hotel has the walking stick over her shoulder, that was removed for the one in O Cebreiro.

 

[Clara Montes de Oca]

I've been blogging/writing about my 2019 Camino Frances journey, for friends and fellow pilgrims who have cancelled (had to or chose to) their 2020 trip.
When we reached O'Cebreiro (by horse) I spied this statute, after our lunch with Victor, I went back and took photos, however, I haven't been able to find any information on the statute. I have woven her into my story - but reluctant to use the photo without known something about her origins. Hoping someone has some info...View attachment 83133

 

[Clara Montes de Oca]

Hi. I know this is rather late but I just saw your post. This statue was made by Miguel Cuoto. She is the Older Sister Pilgrim statue, there is another that compliments her in the Costa Vella's garden in Santiago de Compostela - she is known as the little sister pilgrim.

 

[Artful-Chick]

Hi. I know this is rather late but I just saw your post. This statue was made by Miguel Cuoto. She is the Older Sister Pilgrim statue, there is another that compliments her in the Costa Vella's garden in Santiago de Compostela - she is known as the little sister pilgrim.

Thanks for your reply Clara

 

[Bert45]

I'm a bit late too. The one on the hotel's home page looks nothing like the one at O Cebreiro. To say the one at O Cebreiro is an enlarged replica of the one on the hotel's home page, if that is what camino.ninja is saying, requires a new definition of 'replica'. The one at the hotel looks like a man to me. The legs are completely different. At the side of La Peregrina at O Cebreiro there is a rectangular plate. On it is the name 'miguel couto' (no capitals).

 

[Sho]

Here's a bit more:

El escultor malpicán Miguel Couto suma obra pública

Estos meses de primavera-verano han sido prolíficos para el: la Peregrina de O Cebreiro, la Amistad de Ares... y pronto llegarán más

www.lavozdegalicia.es