The Botanical Gardens of Palermo, in Buenos Aires, are one of the most visited attractions in the neighborhood, owing to its beautiful vegetation, many greenhouses and stray cats. Throughout the gardens you´ll find over 30 different sculptures, and amongst them is one called Saturnalia.
He original brass monument was sculpted in 1900 by Italian artist Ernest Biondi, and was acquired by Hernán Cullen Ayersa, who requested a copy for the city of Buenos Aires. Due to its risqué nature, the sculpture was held in customs for two years before being allowed to enter the country. Ayerza finally placed it in his garden until he died in the 1950s, and the sculpture was donated to the MuseoNacional de BellasArtes. The replica didn´t make it to the Botanical Gardens until 1988.
The sculpture depicts the pagan festival dedicated to the Roman god Saturn (known for its orgiastic nature). It is composed of ten Roman men and women behaving in a drunk and lustful manner.
