I mentioned my modelling career in a post at:
In that post I said that “My finest model is not on show. Regrettably it got lost in transit from the UK to Italy many years ago.
I’d spent ages on the cardboard version of one of Spain’s most fabulous buildings; the King’s palace of Escorial. I’d even fitted it up with interior lights and with loudspeakers to transmit the motets of that greatest of Hispanic renaissance composers Tomas Luis de Victoria. I also added a bit of Soler who was also resident at the palace, played exquisitely by friend Gilbert Roland who has recorded every one of his amazing sonatas. Who knows where this model is now? Not even the company that supplied me the parts for its construction is in existence any more. ‘Sic transit…”
Yesterday our postgirl rang the bell at our gate to say that some paper had arrived for me. I thanked her for delivering the parcel on such an inclement day. It had been raining on and off for most of the time.
I think I had some idea of what might be inside the thick cardboard envelope. It was this:
I had finally found a cut-out model of the Escorial but it was not from the original firm I’d found which was in Barcelona. This one was printed in Germany. Would it possibly be the same one? Yes! Somehow the patents must have been sold and it was now this firm which had the rights to the Escorial, or at least the model of it!
So now I can start again remaking that original lost building – a great way to pass the time while the pandemic is still raging throughout much of the world. Who knows I may soon be able to visit this amazing building for real when travel eases up!
Meanwhile here is something about the Escorial (whose name actually translates as ‘dump’!)
San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The history of the palace is connected with the famous “Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial”, founded by Philip II in memory of the victory over the French at St. Quentin in 1557 which took place on the commemoration day of Saint Lawrence. Juan Bautista de Toledo, who had worked for Michelangelo in Rome, was commissioned with the construction in 1563 which was completed by Juan de Herrera in 1584 . The overall structure, in strict, functional Renaissance style, represents a large rectangle with four corner towers . The extension in the middle of the east facade corresponds to the apse of the church and the royal apartments. Two bell towers and, above all the high dome, are characteristic of the entire building. The Escorial comprises sixteen inner courtyards, twelve main corridors, eighty six staircases, over two thousand windows, eighty eight fountains and thirteen chapels and oratories. The building serves as a church, monastery, palace, pantheon, school, library, art gallery and museum. It is made of granite blocks from the nearby mountain range, the Sierra de Guadarrama. The main facade is 207 m long and 161 m wide. The main portal leads into the Royal courtyard and the forecourt of the church.
The church is on the east side of the courtyard. It has the shape of a Greek cross and the 300 foot high dome rises above four main arches. The Panteon de los Reyes (Pantheon of the Kings) was built by the Italian architect Crescenzi. The remains of most of the Spanish kings and queens since Charles I are buried here.
The sacristy contains valuable paintings including a Titian.
The Convent and Patio de los Evangelistas (Courtyard of the Evangelists) is a large cloister in which the life of the monastic community found its centre. It was completed under Philip II. Juan de Herrera built the fountain in the middle of the courtyard;
The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) was erected towards the end of the 18th century.
Can’t wait to visit the Escorial now before something else is lost!
I personally attended the loading onto the van of our things from the garage to be brought to Longoio sadly many things did not arrive this seems to happen a lot when one moves. The Escorial was safely placed on top of other items we shared the van so maybe it was removed other deliveries and not replaced. Who knows it would be interesting to track it but now as so much time has lapsed it may be impossible. Sufficient to say that Francis you have been brilliant in rescuing this abadoned model now yearning to be assembled like your original one. Well done and may you enjoy many happy hours recreating your model of the Escorial. I certainly look forward to the long promised visit to this mega amazing architectural feat of an all comprising Church, Palace and Pantheon. Hooray for rekindling this project that we had thought was lost which now gives us an incentive to visit this most amazing place.