The Uruguayan project (2012-2013)

Salto (“ The Portrait of Horacio Quiroga”)

In the Northern part of Uruguay, precisely in the city of Salto is situated the Museum Uruguayan-Argentinian poet Horacio Quiroga, who was a contemporary of Stepan Erzia.

   That time the Russian sculptor S. Erzia lived in Chaco, not far from the province of Missiones where the Horacio Quiroga’s "casa" (country house) was placed, he knew the poet pretty well and loved his works. Erzia immediately responded to news of the poet ‘s death and received an order by the  Uruguayan authorities to create a monumental portrait, which later served as well as an urn, which is still keeping  the capsule containing the ashes of Horacio Quiroga.

    Horacio Quiroga’s portrait-urn had a long and difficult destiny. Originally it was placed on the bank of Uruguay River close to the town of Salto, which is near to Quiroga Stone (La Piedra de Quiroga). Created from wood portrait, the urn, for over 20 years, was in a wet and hot climate at a constant temperature difference and humidity. The portrait soon was moved to a local museum, where it was covered with varnish without pre-cleaning and restoration, resulting in an abrupt deterioration of its conditions. Before moving portrait from the river bank a copy of cement was made from it and this copy is currently located on this commemorative place.

    During the last five years Horacio Quiroga's portrait is stored in the memorial house-museum of the poet in Salto, indoors, waiting for an urgent and careful restoration, which, according to the agreement with the direction of the Museum, is due in 2012 and it will be realized  by an expert of  the Erzia’s Foundation.

    After the restoration of  Horacio Quiroga’s portrait in the building of the Russian Embassy in Montevideo and in the house-museum in Salto Quiroga there will be a presentation of the Russian-Uruguayan cultural project, which intent is saving from the imminent death another monumental work of the Russian sculptor in Argentina. We have already received the invitation to the Russian Embassy in Uruguay and, under the aegis of the Embassy we’ll carry out a full range of restoration work.