SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, July 6. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The deputies Francisco Déniz (Yes We Can) and Mario Cabrera (CC-PNC) have submitted a letter to the Parliament Board in which they request that the paintings of the conquest of the Canary Islands, made by the painter Manuel González Méndez, be covered during the development of the plenary sessions.
The document stresses that the paintings are “an offense” because they evoke “the worst” of the wars for the conquest of the archipelago, including a scene in which two girls are handed over to the victors of the contest.
Both Déniz and Cabrera insist that it is not an “artistic issue” but rather a political one, since the works give a “biased vision” of the conquest that is not “objective” with the reality of the facts.
They have pointed out that issues related to aboriginal culture are very “sensitive” on the islands and in this specific case they stress that they are “disgusted” by the representation of the delivery of two girls as “subjects of surrender”.
They have also insisted that there are many deputies “offended” with these images that recall a “determined vision” of the conquest of the archipelago.
In addition, and according to the historical sources consulted, the protagonists of the paintings, Pedro de Vera and Alonso Fernández de Lugo, left a trail of crimes and bloody violence on the islands, to the point that they were sanctioned by the Crown of Castile and the Vatican for his cruel methods with the Guanches.
However, they understand that as the report of the San Miguel Arcángel Royal Academy of Fine Arts establishes that the canvases are an “inseparable” part of the Chamber and cannot be moved, that they be covered by pastry chefs during the plenary sessions.
At least, they indicate in the letter, “those of us who have a critical view of their presence in the plenary hall when there are parliamentary sessions, we feel satisfied with their covering, and that it can be visible when, on time, it is deemed convenient. “.
