Page 222 - Features of an Era
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Stone Cake:
The red granite pedestal of the statue, which had been the most well-known
landmark of Tahrir Square until its removal in 1990, was in itself an exquisite work
of art designed in the classical Italian style. It is uncertain whether the pillar was
designed by a particular artist or by the architects of the Royal Palace, who succeeded
Ernesto Verrucci Bey (1945-1874), the chief architect of the royal palaces, after his
death.
Historian Samir Raafat stated two important facts about the pedestal: First, it was
estimated that the pedestal cost at 1952 prices was one hundred thousand pounds,
which was a huge number then. Second, many suggestions about the reuse of the
statueless pedestal were offered years subsequent to the July 23rd, 1952 Revolution
after the discontinuation of Isma’il statue project following the fall of the monarchy.
Raafat mentioned that in late 1958, the deans of Egypt’s fine art faculties in Cairo and
Alexandria had squabbled among themselves on the adaptive reuse of the pedestal.
He went on to say: «One suggestion was that the history of Egypt’s long struggle
for freedom should be engraved on it. Another suggestion was that it becomes
a memorial for the Unknown Soldier. A third suggestion was the launching of a
sculpting competition among famous artists for an appropriate statue symbolizing
Egypt’s struggle. The winning statue would eventually be perched atop the granite
structure. None of the above suggestions saw the day.»(29) On reviewing this period, it
was found that two deans were architect Awad Kamel, dean of Cairo’s Faculty of Fine
Arts between 1953 and 1966 and sculptor Ahmed Othman, dean of Alexandria’s
Faculty of Fine Arts from 1957 to 1968.
(29) Raafat, Samir: Midan Al-Tahrir, Cairo Times, December 10th, 1998.
222
The red granite pedestal of the statue, which had been the most well-known
landmark of Tahrir Square until its removal in 1990, was in itself an exquisite work
of art designed in the classical Italian style. It is uncertain whether the pillar was
designed by a particular artist or by the architects of the Royal Palace, who succeeded
Ernesto Verrucci Bey (1945-1874), the chief architect of the royal palaces, after his
death.
Historian Samir Raafat stated two important facts about the pedestal: First, it was
estimated that the pedestal cost at 1952 prices was one hundred thousand pounds,
which was a huge number then. Second, many suggestions about the reuse of the
statueless pedestal were offered years subsequent to the July 23rd, 1952 Revolution
after the discontinuation of Isma’il statue project following the fall of the monarchy.
Raafat mentioned that in late 1958, the deans of Egypt’s fine art faculties in Cairo and
Alexandria had squabbled among themselves on the adaptive reuse of the pedestal.
He went on to say: «One suggestion was that the history of Egypt’s long struggle
for freedom should be engraved on it. Another suggestion was that it becomes
a memorial for the Unknown Soldier. A third suggestion was the launching of a
sculpting competition among famous artists for an appropriate statue symbolizing
Egypt’s struggle. The winning statue would eventually be perched atop the granite
structure. None of the above suggestions saw the day.»(29) On reviewing this period, it
was found that two deans were architect Awad Kamel, dean of Cairo’s Faculty of Fine
Arts between 1953 and 1966 and sculptor Ahmed Othman, dean of Alexandria’s
Faculty of Fine Arts from 1957 to 1968.
(29) Raafat, Samir: Midan Al-Tahrir, Cairo Times, December 10th, 1998.
222
