Mujerona
March 1st, 2010
After the Angel of Independence, this statue of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, is arguably the most well-known landmark in Mexico City. You can find her on Paseo de la Reforma, not far from Chapultepec Park.
A well-worn anecdote has it that in 1944, two years after the monument was unveiled, Soledad Orozco, wife of President Manual Avila Camacho, was so scandalized by the statue’s voluptuous nudity that she demanded it be covered with a loincloth. The art world’s disapproval of her position was eclipsed by the support she got from the National League of Decency and Archbishop Luis María Martínez. The sculptor, Juan Fernando Olaguibel, was forced to concede her wish.
In 1967, President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz decreed that the statue be returned to its original state. Olaguibel was obliged to start from scratch, as removing the loincloth would have caused too much damage to the first statue. The ceremony of its unveiling happened in the middle of the night, so as not to cause more scandal.
The identity of the model — Helvia Martínez Verdayes — wife of a one-time director of the state oil monopoly, PEMEX — was not revealed until 1992.
11 Responses to “Mujerona”
By Anthony on Mar 1, 2010
As many times as I’ve been by this statue, I’ve never known of its scandals. : )
Anthony
By Junichiro Watanabe on Mar 1, 2010
The National League of Decency??? Hahah. Dave, if that place still exists would you please inform us of its whereabouts in DF? I might drop by sometime, just for a chat!
By Judy on Mar 2, 2010
Even with la Diana Cazadora there was cronyism. Love it.
By AngelineM on Mar 2, 2010
I lived in the DF a short while when I was very young and spent many a summer there with cousins. I don’t remember the “dress/loincloth” of Diana, but only that I thought of what a powerful, wonderful woman she was. Looking at this photo, I still think that.
By cardie on Mar 2, 2010
Any photos with the skirt? Was it made of feathers – seems like that is what I have heard? This type of censorship has been very common in the past – draping or clothing nudes. What a fabulous monument.
By Michael Parker Stainback on Mar 2, 2010
À propos of what Cardie says, indeed, do we have any pictures of the (in)famous skirted Diana? I’ve heard this story many times but am beginning to wonder if it’s apocryphal. Not that I’m a truth freak, of course; and naturally, I want such a colorful story to be true, but I have (up to now) reasonable doubts. There are no images of beskirted or be-pantied Dianas that I can find anywhere on the internet.
By Jorge Pedro on Mar 3, 2010
mi tía, que en aquel tiempo trabajaba en la secretaría de comunicaciones, donde ahora está el munal, iba a ser la modelo para la diana cazadora. pero al final rechazó la invitación porque le pareció indecente. pequeña anécdota familiar, gran tragedia nacional. je. saludos.
By Kim G on Mar 3, 2010
Probably the single good thing that Díaz Ordaz ever did. The blood of Tlatelolco will stain his hands forever.
Saludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where, due to an abundance of puritans, we don’t have such sculptures.
By Ron on Mar 5, 2010
I still remember La Diana in it’s original place when I lived in México City from 1973 to 1975.
By Anonimo on Mar 6, 2010
NAFTA JOKE:
En que se parece Carlos Salinas de Gortari a Diana La Cazadora?
En que los dos le dan las nalgas al norte y no saben a lo que le tiran
By Dianna on Mar 24, 2010
My parent’s small apartment overlooked “La Diana”. Unbeknownst to them at the time, I was riding in my mama’s belly. Upon realizing I was conceived in D.F., the name was chosen if it were to be a girl,and of course, I was. My mom added the extra “n” in hopes that it would be pronounced correctly. But, alas, all my life I’ve had to correct the pronuciation of my name. It’s d-ee-ah-nah, the Spanish pronuciation. You see, I was named after a statue in Mexico City.
Thanks for posting the photo and the trip down memory lane. Wish I were there now.