Focus on this artwork and explore the Design.
The bronze, beaux arts statue shows Columbus standing and gesturing into the distance with one hand.  In his other hand, he holds a scrolled map at his side.  On the sides of the statue's art deco pedestal are carved depictions of: one of Columbus' ships, the Santa Maria; astronomer and mathematician, Paolo Toscanelli, who plotted the course to the "New World;" the explorer, Amerigo Vespucci; and the seal of the City of Genoa.  In the four corners of the pedestal are busts allegorically representing, Faith, Courage, Freedom, and Strength.  Despite appearances, Brioschi's son has denied that the figure holding a fasces representing Strength was a portrait of Benito Mussolini.
Paolo Toscanelli art deco Amerigo Vespucci fasces Santa Maria pedestal beaux arts Benito Mussolini