Osborne Bull: A Symbol of Spain
Learn about the iconic Osborne Bull, a symbol of Spain seen along its roadsides. Discover its history, association with sherry brandy, and cultural significance.
Bull Osborne, Spain
Along the roads of Spain, the silhouette of the Osborne bull, a symbol of Spain itself, is a common sight, not only in Andalusia. Although famous as the Andalusian bull. For instance, there is a monument of this bull at the entrance to the bullfighting arena on the Plaza de Toros in Ronda. These bulls, or rather advertising billboards shaped like bulls, are prominently visible from afar on many roads in Spain, numbering a total of 91, as they say.
Not a bull but a donkey?
A necessary digression. Suddenly I wondered: do these silhouettes exist in Catalonia? I don't recall seeing them there. The thing is, in Catalonia, which associates itself with Catalonia rather than Spain, you're more likely to encounter not a bull, but a donkey — an animal that is not only stubborn but also hardworking. It is written that the only Catalan bull on the A2 highway near the village of El Bruc was knocked down a couple of years ago.
Roadside Bulls by Manolo Prieto
Returning to the "Osborne bulls." Although more accurately they should be called "bulls by Manolo Prieto" — named after the artist who created this graphic silhouette. They were placed along the roads in the 1960s, during the Franco dictatorship.
The first bull was installed in 1957 in Cabanillas de la Sierra, on the road from Madrid to Burgos. It's no secret that dictators loved good roads. It was under dictatorships that countries saw the emergence of wonderful roads that still delight motorists today: in Portugal — under Salazar; in Germany — under Hitler; in Spain — under Franco...
Why did dictators love good roads?
It's all very simple. A good road is good communication in case of war. All dictators are always prepared and prepared for some kind of war.
Bull Osborne and Sherry Brandy
Spain has long been associated with bullfighting. Bulls are bullfighting. However, "Osborne
Bulls" originally advertised not as the national pastime, but Osborne Sherry brandy. The history of the Osborne company can be found on many websites.
One of them writes that the company's history began in 1772 when an Englishman, Thomas Osborne Mann, arrived in Cadiz and founded a wine business — thus the Osborne company was born. In addition, he married the daughter of the head of the alcohol company Duff Gordon, which certainly didn't hurt his business.
Nearly two centuries later
To be precise — 184 years later — the Osborne company was thriving and developing, it commissioned advertising for its brandy called Veterano. For this, they chose the artist Manolo Prieto. He chose the silhouette of a black bull. "Osborne bulls" were attempted to be banned in 1988.
But by that time, they were so well-liked that they were already associated not only with brandy. They had become a symbol of Spain. Therefore, a compromise was reached: the company removed its name from the bull-shaped billboards, and the state allowed the black bulls to remain along the roads.
Cultural heritage of Spain
Now the Osborne Bull is not just a silhouette by the road, but a "cultural heritage and artistic element." ... I like this "artistic element." I can't say the same about the sherry brandy.
Article author: journalist Grigoriy Pasko for Fenix.info
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