Bust of Jorge Juan y Santacilia

Public sculpture has the ability to restore presence to the figures who have shaped our history. The bust dedicated to Jorge Juan y Santacilia, unveiled at the University of Alicante, was created with this aim in mind: to pay tribute to one of the great scientific, naval, and intellectual figures of 18th-century Spain and to strengthen the link between his legacy and the region that shaped his origins and education.

Jorge Juan was born in Novelda and had deep ties to Alicante in his early years. It was in this environment that he began his training and took his first steps in the Spanish Navy, within the naval command of the port of Alicante. A sailor, naval engineer, mathematician, astronomer, scientist, and spy in the service of the state, he embodied the spirit of the Enlightenment based on knowledge, reason, and progress. In Europe, he was known as the “Spanish Sage,” a recognition that reflects the international prestige he achieved thanks to his talent and his technical and scientific contributions.

Based on this historical context, a sculptural project was developed with the utmost technical rigor. The bust installed at the University of Alicante is a faithful reproduction of the original work sculpted by Felipe de Castro after Jorge Juan’s death in 1773. The original piece, based on a death mask, has served as a direct reference for this work, ensuring absolute fidelity in the features, proportions, and character of the portrait.

To ensure this precision, the original bust was digitized using 3D scanning, a process that allows the geometry and volumes of the historical work to be accurately captured. This digital model has been the starting point for all subsequent development, combining respect for the original sculpture with the use of contemporary technologies applied to artistic casting.

The bronze busco was cast at our facilities using the traditional lost wax bronze casting system. This artisanal process remains fundamental in the creation of sculptures for public spaces due to its reliability, durability, and ability to reproduce the smallest details. Based on the model, a wax piece was created and carefully reviewed before preparing the ceramic mold and casting system.

Once the molten bronze had been cast and cooled, the manual finishing work began, removing sprues, smoothing surfaces, and adjusting the final details of the piece. This phase is key to giving the sculpture visual coherence and sculptural quality, ensuring that the portrait maintains balance and expressive power.

The final treatment was completed with a carefully applied patina, designed with both aesthetics and conservation in mind. The patina adds depth to the face, reinforces the expressiveness of the piece, and protects the material from environmental conditions, ensuring its proper evolution over time in an outdoor setting.

The bust, measuring 57 centimeters in height, sits on a white concrete pedestal designed specifically for this installation. The ensemble reaches a total height of 1.83 meters, a direct reference to Le Corbusier’s Modulor and a symbolic nod to Jorge Juan’s solid mathematical and scientific training. The relationship between the sculpture and the pedestal has been carefully chosen to give the piece presence, stability, and coherence within the university space.

The unveiling of the bust was attended by academic, civil, and military authorities, and was supported by the Spanish Navy, the Frax Foundation, to whom we are grateful for the cover photograph, and the Jorge Juan Foundation. At Capa Esculturas, we would like to share that this project has been an exercise in responsibility and respect for historical sculpture. Beyond the value of the character represented, the goal was to create a solid, honest, and well-executed piece, designed to endure and become part of Alicante’s cultural landscape. A work where tradition, technique, and precision have come together to transform history into sculptural form and presence. Here you can see more completed projects.