Relief bearing O'Higgins's effigy, Monumento a la Libertad Americana

What it is

This is a detail of a marble relief from the Monumento a la Libertad Americana in the Plaza de Armas, Santiago de Chile. A central medallion carries the profile bust of a man in military dress, identified as O'Higgins. Draped flags flank the medallion, an eagle sits above, and trophies of arms and cannonballs lie below. A carved inscription band with the sculptor's name runs beneath. The sculptor is recorded as Francisco Orsolino.

Why it matters

Public monuments in city squares were built to remind citizens of national heroes and victories. This relief places O'Higgins among symbols of war and freedom, showing how later Chileans wanted him remembered. It is a memorial made after his lifetime, so it reflects the views of the people who commissioned it. The sculptor, Francisco Orsolino, shaped how the figure was shown.

Look closer

• Which objects around the bust, such as the flags, eagle and cannonballs, suggest what the monument celebrates?
• Why would a monument show a leader in military dress rather than in another role?
• What does this carved image leave out about the people who opposed O'Higgins or suffered in the wars?