Plaza de Santa Ana will host the inauguration of the sculptural ensemble by local artist Juan Ventura on Sunday, 6th September at 22:15, paying tribute to the tradition of the Coming of the Virgin of Setefilla.
The town of Lora del Río will unveil a new heritage emblem dedicated to its most deeply rooted devotion on Sunday, 6th September. The Plaza de Santa Ana will be the setting for the official inauguration of the Monument to the Old Man, a sculptural ensemble in bronze and stone that immortalises one of the most unique scenes of the Coming of Our Lady of Setefilla, a festivity declared of Tourist Interest in Andalusia.
The work, signed by local artist Juan Antonio González García, known as Juan Ventura, aims to perpetuate the ancestral rite that precedes the descent of the Patroness from her sanctuary in the mountains to the parish of the Assumption. According to tradition, after the ringing of bells at the old Hermitage of Santa Ana, the town processes the oldest brother of the corporation, dressed on a ceremonial chair, to formally request the coming at the house of the Brother Major and the parish priest. That mythical figure of the local devotional imagery is now captured forever.
For the artist, the commission holds special significance. Born in Lora del Río on 31st January 1954 and trained under the mastery of Francisco Buiza, Juan Ventura is a reference in contemporary neobaroque imagery, with works spread across national and international geography, such as the Virgin of Mercy of Catania (Italy) or the Saint John Evangelist of the Brotherhood of the Dispossessed of Seville.
Despite his extensive career in sacred art, the sculptor maintains a close bond with the Brotherhood of Setefilla and with local heritage. His achievements include the imagery of the Borriquita and the restoration of deeply devotional images such as Our Father Jesus or the Holy Burial. The new piece, crafted in his workshop in Seville on calle Reposo, represents a gift to his hometown that unites art, faith, and Lora identity.
The inauguration is scheduled for 22:15 in the Plaza de Santa Ana, at an event expected to be well-attended, marking a new chapter in the festive calendar of the municipality.
You may also like
