COLUMBIAN HISTORICAL EXPOSITION AT MADKID. 



247 



No. 94. THE MELIDA DESIGN FOR A TOMB OF COLUMBUS, HAVANA. 



On February 25. 1891, a royal decree was issued by the Government of Spain, 

 through the ministry of colonies, inviting competition between Spanish artists for 

 the erection of an appropriate sepulcher in which to preserve the alleged remains 

 of Christopher Columbus in the 

 cathedral at Havana, and for a 

 statue in his honor in the central 

 plaza of that city. Fifty thou 

 sand dollars was appropriated 

 for the first and $100,000 for the 

 others. Several designs were sub 

 mitted to a jury, who awarded 

 the first prize to Arthur Melida 

 and a premium of $5,000; the 

 second prize was given to Don 

 Antonio Alsina; and the third 

 to Don Francisco Fons The 

 sepulcher is now being erected, 

 upon the Melida design, at 

 Havana. 



The Melida design represents 

 a bier covered with a heavily 

 embroidered pall, borne upon the 

 shoulders of four heralds, in gar 

 ments richly carved to represent 

 lace and embroidered work. The 

 two front figures bear scepters 

 surmounted by images of the 



Madonna and St. James, the pa- MELIDA DESIGN FOR MONUMENT. 



tron saint of Spain. On the front 



of their garments are represented the arms of Castile and Leon. The rear bearers 



represent Aragon and Navarre 

 the former being indicated by 

 four red staffs on a gold field, 

 and the fourth has gold-linked 

 chains on a red field. The 

 group is supported on a pedes 

 tal ornamented about its edge 

 with a Greek fret. 



X o. 95. DESIGN FOE A TOMB OF 

 COLUMBUS BY ALSINA. 



The design submitted by An 

 tonio Alsina represents Spain 

 and America united by the 

 symbol of the Christian faith. 

 The sitting statues represent 

 Hope, Cosmography, and Navi 

 gation. The Spanish lion sup 

 ports the shield of the Catholic kings. The statue of Fame, whose wings partly 

 appear behind the upper group, is pointing to the name of Columbus inscribed on a 

 medallion placed on the rear of the funereal urn. 



