Statue of Christopher Columbus (Central Park)

Statue of Christopher Columbus
Statue of Christopher Columbus
	The sculpture in 2010
Artist	Jeronimo Suñol
Year	1892
Type	Sculpture
Medium	Bronze
Subject	Christopher Columbus
Location	New York City, New York, United States
	40°46′11.5″N 73°58′21″W / 40.769861°N 73.97250°W / 40.769861; -73.97250

An outdoor bronze sculpture of Christopher Columbus by Jeronimo Suñol is installed in Central Park in Manhattan, New York.^[1]

History

In 1892, the Statue of Christopher Columbus was donated to Central Park by the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of his arrival in the Americas. The statue replicates one made by Jeronimo Suñol in 1892,^[2] located at the Plaza de Colon, in Madrid. The New York version was placed in the park in 1894 at the foot of the Mall, and is today one of two monuments of Columbus found in the park's environs, the other being the statue surmounting the column at Columbus Circle. The sculpture depicts the explorer standing with outstretched arms, looking towards the heavens in gratitude for his successful voyage.

The statue was created to commemorate the 400th anniversary, in 1892, of Columbus's arrival in the Americas. It was unveiled in Central Park on May 12, 1894.^[3]^[4]

In August 2017, the statue was vandalized with red paint and graffiti reading "Hate will not be tolerated" and '#somethingscoming". The statue was restored shortly thereafter.^[5] The statue was vandalized again in February 2023 with red paint and graffiti reading "land back" and "murderer".^[6]

References

^ "Central Park: Christopher Columbus". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
^ The park's sculpture is signed in the bronze "J. SUÑOL"; it bears the foundry mark of Federico Masriera, Barcelona, 1892.
^ "Christopher Columbus". Central Park Conservancy. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
^ "Sunol's Columbus Unveiled: Ceremonies Witnessed By Many Distinguished Persons". The New York Times. May 13, 1894. p. 9. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
^ Nir, Sarah Maslin; Mays, Jeffrey C. (September 12, 2017). "Christopher Columbus Statue in Central Park Is Vandalized". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
^ Janoski, Steve; Moore, Tina (February 27, 2023). "Vandals spray-paint 'Murderer' on Central Park Columbus statue". New York Post. Retrieved March 7, 2023.