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June 2004
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18th-century statue of St James removed from the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

Officials feared the sculpture, which depicts the national saint slaying a Moor, would offend Muslims

The Art Newspaper
1 June 2004
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Santiago de Compostela Dan Cotfas

Santiago de Compostela Dan Cotfas

An 18th-century wooden statue of St James slaying Moorish infidels has been removed from the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela because of fears that it might offend Muslims. The work by José Gambino, depicts Spain’s national saint on a white horse, raising his sword and trampling headless Moors underfoot. It is to be replaced with another statue of the saint, by the same artist, showing James as a pilgrim.

• Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper's In the Frame section without a headline

June 2004SculptureSantiago de CompostelaMonuments and their histories
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