Christopher Columbus Memorial, (sculpture).

Christopher Columbus Memorial, (sculpture).

Russo, Gaetano, sculptor.

Leigh, Douglas, designer.

Fonderia Nelli, founder.

Christopher Columbus Memorial, (sculpture).

Columbus Monument, (sculpture).

1892. Dedicated Oct. 12, 1892. Rededicated June 1991.

Digital Reference:

Statue of Columbus and allegorical figure: Carrara marble; Column: granite; Reliefs: bronze.

Overall: approx. 77 ft. 4 in. x 35 ft. x 35 ft.; Column: approx. H. 26 ft.; Statue: approx. H. 13 ft. 4 in.; Each relief: approx. 2 x 6 ft.

(On bronze reliefs on base:) Russo. Invento E Sculpi Roma 1894/ Fond/Nelli/Roma (On base:) High Up On A Shaft/A Christoforo Colombo (West side of base:) A/Christoforo Colombo/Gl' Italiani Residenti In America/Irriso Prima/Minacciato Durante Il Viaggio/Ancatenato Dopo/Sapendo Esser Generoso Quanto Oppresso/Donava Un Mondo As Mondo/La Gioia E La Gloria/Non Ebbero Mai Piu Sollenne Grido/Di Quello Che Risuono In Vista/Della Prima Isola Americana/Terre! Terra!/Nel 12 Ottobre 1892/Quarto Centenario/Della Scoperta D'America/A Imperitura Memoria (On the east side of base:) To/Christopher Columbus/The Italians Resident In Ameria/Scoffed At Before,/During The Voyage, Menaced,/After It, Chained, /As Generous As Oppressed,/To The World He Gave A World./Joy And Glory/Never Uttered A more Thrilling Call/Than That Which Resounded From The Conquered Ocean/In Sight Of The First American Island/Land! Land!/Of The XII Of October MDCCCXCII/The Fourth Centenary Of The Discovery Of America/In Imperishable Remembrance (On the west side of base:) Per iniziativa/del progresso Italo Americano/II primo giornale Italiano quotidiano/negli Stati Uniti/Cav. Carlo Barsotti Editora e Proprietario signed Founder's mark appears.

A column surmounted by a statue of Columbus. On the south side of the base is a youth with wings examining a globe, symbolizing the Genius of Discovery. On the base are two reliefs tablets. One depicts Columbus putting ashore and giving thanks to God while natives peer from behind foliage. The other depicts the Nina, Pinta, and, Santa Maria setting sail from Spain. The column itself is ornamented with three pairs of bronze rostra, beak-like prows of ancient ships. The base is surrounded by fountains of splashing water.

Portrait male -- Columbus, Christopher

Occupation -- Transportation -- Navigator

Ethnic -- Italian

Allegory -- Other -- Exploration

History -- Exploration -- Americas

Ethnic -- Indian

Architecture -- Boat -- Nina

Architecture -- Detail -- Column

Architecture -- Boat -- Pinta

Architecture -- Boat -- Santa Maria

Outdoor Sculpture -- New York -- New York

Administered by City of New York, Department of Parks and Recreation, The Arsenal - Central Park, New York, New York 10021

Located Columbus Circle, Eighth Avenue & 59th Street, New York, New York

The monument was a gift of the Italian-Americans funded through public subscription organized by Carolo Barssotti, editor of Il Progresso. In 1960, Douglas Leigh designed fountain water displays with leaping jets of water patterned on fountains in Rome. The Delacorte Foundation presented the fountains to the city and maintains them. The monument was restored in 1991 and the Adopt-A-Monument Program funded the restoration. For related information see: Art Commission of the City of New York, "Catalogue of Works Belonging to the City of New York," vol. I pg. 164. Inventory image files contain a historic photograph of the monument from the Art Commission of the City of New York files. This photograph was taken before the 1960 addition of the fountains. For additional information see also: New York Times June 13, 1892; Oct. 10, 1892; and Oct 13, 1892.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

The City of New York, Department of Parks, 1941.

Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 263-264.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NY5017, 1989.

Monumental News, May 1908, pg. 369.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York, New York survey, 1992.

Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 263.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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