NYC Parks Rededicates Statue of Dante Alighieri at Dante Park

Last Tuesday, September 14, the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation celebrated the centennial rededication of the Dante Alighieri statue at Dante Park. The statue was recently conserved by NYC Parks, and the conservation and rededication commemorates the 700th anniversary of the Italian poet’s death and 100th anniversary of the statue's installation, making Dante one of the oldest residents in the neighborhood!

Artist Ettore Ximenes (1855–1926) sculpted the bronze figure of Dante and garland affixed to the monument’s granite-clad pedestal, which was designed by the architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore. The monument was dedicated in 1921, on the 600th anniversary of Dante’s death. As part of the Citywide Monuments Conservation Program (CMCP), NYC Parks staff fully conserved the statue with the help of City Cleanup Corps (CCC) apprentices in August of 2021. The two-week conservation involved chemical patination and recoating the bronze with a traditional hot wax finish, as well as cleaning the granite base and repointing the pedestal’s failed masonry joints. The monument was last refurbished through CMCP in 2001.

The Lincoln Square BID joined NYC Parks, City Officials, and other community members for the wonderful ceremony – click here to view photos. To learn more on the statue of Dante’s rededication and conservation, read NYC Parks’ press release.

Photo credit: Elena Olivo