Juan de Ávalos Has Died

Juan de Ávalos Has Died

A name that will probably not mean that much to many people but Juan de Ávalos was the sculptor responsible for the huge figures in the tomb of General Francisco Franco at el Valle de los Caídos (the Valley of the Fallen).

Franco claimed that el Valle de los Caídos was built as a monument to all those who fell during the Spanish Civil War. The reality is that it was more likely built to commemorate those who died in support of Franco during the Spanish Civil War and to commemorate Franco's triumph over the Republicans. In this light, it isn't really a monument to all those who fell during the war but a monument to Franco himself.

Juan de Ávalos suffered some ignominy throughout his life as a supporter of Franco when was he was actually an active member of the socialist party. Prior to beginning work on the sculptures at the monument he was summoned to Franco's "court" for an audience with "el Caudillo". Years later Ávalos said "I was a little shocked. Why did I have to go and see him? A decent person like me who had not killed anyone?"

Don Ávalos was 94.