Iron and Stone: Sculptural Structures on the Puerta de Alcalá Gate in Madrid

Abstract

The restoration of the Puerta de Alcalá gate in 2023 allowed a detailed study of the structural systems employed in its monumental sculptural ensembles, executed in limestone and containing numerous iron elements. The analysis revealed various metal cramps, clamps, ties, and brackets forming part of the original solutions designed to stabilize the ensembles, some consisting of large blocks and considerably cantilevered. The article describes these systems, especially complex in the warriors’ panoply and the figure of Fame, and details the criteria followed in their restoration. It also outlines the shoring devised during the works and highlights the relevancy of traditional techniques and materials in suitably apprehending, preserving, and restoring such monumental sculptural heritage.