Maybe the image is familiar to you because the statue of the Victory of Samothrace is world famous and a symbol of sculpture that is currently in the Louvre Museum. A bit far from Argentina? Maybe. But you don’t need to go all the way to the Louvre because there is an exact replica and equally beautiful to the naked eye in a beautiful building in Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires has its own Victoria of Samothrace.
The Estrugamou Palace is one of the most beautiful and aristocratic buildings that Buenos Aires has and it is just this palace in Buenos Aires where an impressive replica of the Victory of Samothrace, one of the most iconic sculptures in the history of art, is hidden.
To say that it is hidden is a figure of speech because it is actually in plain sight, in its inner garden, visible to all who pass through the door of this building.
The story behind the goddess of victory.
The original work was found in 1863 on the Greek island of Samothrace and depicts Nike, the goddess of victory, with a gesture of triumph. Its majesty made it one of the most admired sculptures in the world, and today it is exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, if we tell you that it is the sculpture of a woman’s body without arms but with wings on a kind of boat, you might recognize it.
In fact, the Nike brand logo is inspired by the wings of this goddess, which is the symbol of movement, speed and success.
Our own Samothrace in a hidden corner in Buenos Aires.
The replica of this masterpiece that everyone should be able to see sometime is located in the Estrugamou Palace, a French-style building inaugurated in 1929, located at Juncal 783, in the city of Buenos Aires. Although access to the Estrugamou Palace is private, the sculpture is perfectly visible through the main gate.
If you have never seen the Buenos Aires replica of the Victory of Samothrace, it is no longer a secret. If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop and admire this hidden gem of the city. Did you already know it?
Replica of the Victory of Samothrace 📍 Estrugamou Building. Juncal 783