THE BAS-RELIEFS OF JESÚS OTERO

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Javier Gómez-Acebo

Jesús Ortiz

Jesús Otero was the greatest Cantabrian sculptor of the last century. A native of Santillana del Mar, his works are installed in various locations throughout Spain, France, Colombia, the United States…

Given his importance, much has been written about Jesús Otero. But there is a significant part of his work that has gone unnoticed: a series of 18 bas-reliefs with justice as their common theme. Both the reliefs and the unique building in which they are embedded have remained unknown and outside the cultural awareness of the people of Santander, notes the dean of the Cantabria College of Architects in the epilogue of a recently published book.

Javier Gómez-Acebo and Jesús Ortiz have published *The Bas-Reliefs of Jesús Otero in the Palace of Justice in Santander*, a book that reproduces the reliefs and offers an explanation of each one.

The explanation follows two lines of thought: on the one hand, identifying the source of the depicted image—scenes from the Bible, Greek mythology, literature…

Otero was a great portraitist, and he liked to depict friends and family members in his scenes.

Identifying them is the second line of inquiry explored in the book.

The Exhibition

At the Jesús Otero Museum, we are now exhibiting 1-square-meter reproductions of the bas-reliefs. Since their installation in the Santander building—some at considerable heights—no one had had the opportunity to view them so closely.

Santillana thus hosts a display of our fellow townsman’s work that is as beautiful as it is unexpected.