Description
A statue commissioned by Fidel Castro, created by Cuban artist Tony Lopez.
Thought to be the only known statue of Fidel Castro that was personally owned by the Cuban leader.
Signed by Castro on the base in January 1959, the month he gained control of Cuba.
8 x 4.5 inches.
History
In 1958, anticipating that victory in the revolution was near, Castro commissioned a small victory statue of his image in white clay from celebrated Cuban artist Tony Lopez.
Castro signed the base and added the date: "Enero [January] 1959". This places the inscription to the very month Castro entered Havana and seized control of Cuba.
Lopez has also signed the bust.
The statue features a badge of the 26th of July Movement and the words FIDEL CASTRO at the foot.
The statue was discovered at the home Castro shared with Natty Revuelta Clews, following her death in 2015.
The statue was subsequently sold to a friend. The new owner painted the statue gold and cleaned the base.
It was recently purchased by the present owner.
A second Tony Lopez statue of Castro, produced in 1959, went with the artist when he fled to Miami the same year. Its whereabouts are unknown.
Acquired by the previous owner at the estate sale of Fidel Castro's mistress Natty Revuelta Clews, between December 2015 and July 2016.
The previous owner is British businessman Mr Gary Shannon, who knew the Castro family and their associates for 20+ years from circa 2000. Mr Shannon helped provide technology and communications infrastructure to Cuba.
The item formed part of Mr Shannon’s private Jagdamer Museum of Castro and Guevara memorabilia, from 2016 to 2020.
Natty Revuelta Clews (December 26, 1925 – February 27, 2015) was the mistress of Fidel Castro from 1955 until her death. Their daughter, Alina, was born in 1956.
Revuelta - a wealthy socialite - was instrumental in assisting Castro overthrow the Batista regime in Cuba.
Revuelta sold her jewels to support the Cuban rebels, helped plan the 26th of July Movement uprising in 1953 and, crucially, helped Fidel Castro co-ordinate the Cuban Revolution while he was imprisoned between 1953 and 1955, through exchanging secret messages with Castro.
The pair began their affair upon Castro’s release from prison in May 1955.
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