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Secondary sourceSculpture17 February 2011 (photograph)

Statue of Miguel Hidalgo, Plaza Hidalgo, Cuautepec

Ivette Cedillo · 17 February 2011 (photograph)

A gold-painted statue of Miguel Hidalgo holding up chains, standing in a plaza named after him in Mexico City.

A modern memorial statue showing Hidalgo holding chains, a symbol tied to his role in ending slavery and leading independence.

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Gold-painted statue of a man in a long robe holding up chains in one raised hand, standing on a white pedestal. The pedestal bears the name Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Mexican flag, 1935-2010, and Cuautepec. A gazebo and trees are behind it.
Statue of Miguel Hidalgo, Plaza Hidalgo, Cuautepec, Mexico City. Photo by Ivette Cedillo, 2011.

About this source

What it is

This photograph shows a gold-painted statue of a man in a long robe holding up chains in one raised hand, on a pedestal in Plaza Hidalgo in the Cuautepec area of Mexico City. The pedestal names Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and bears the dates 1935-2010. The photo was taken in 2011.

Why it matters

The raised chains are a common symbol in Mexican monuments, representing the end of slavery and the start of the fight for independence that Hidalgo led. This later memorial shows how communities use public art to remember him as a symbol of freedom, long after his own lifetime.

Look closer

  • Why do you think the sculptor chose to show Hidalgo holding chains?
  • What might the dates on the pedestal refer to, and why record them there?
  • How does a statue like this shape what people believe about a historical figure?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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