Describe the characteristics of the Creation of statue in Statue of Christopher Columbus (Newport, Rhode Island)'s History.
What the foundry wrought was a 5-foot, 8-inch life-size likeness of the explorer in bronze weighing 700 pounds, a sculptured bronze fence with relief panels of crosses and panels depicting Columbus’ ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, as well as a panel showing him greeting the Indians upon his arrival, also weighing 700 pounds. The work also included a 1,300-pound base consisting of four marble outer wall slabs, one with an inscription, “Christopher Columbus, Discoverer of America, October 12, 1492, Erected by the Italian community of Newport, Rhode Island, October 12, 1953,” and a top slab to be assembled here. The name of the artist who created the prototype is on the statue; it reads “Modello (model or prototype), G. Cappelletti.” At that time in 1953, the destroyer tender USS Cascade (AD-16) was on a four-month duty in the Mediterranean to support destroyers there; she was there from Feb. 21, 1953, to June 10, 1953. She had been recommissioned on April 5, 1951, and was based in Newport as tender for the many destroyers that were homeported here. While in the Mediterranean, the Cascade also distributed clothing that had been donated by Newport residents to the needy.
The Columbus Monument Committee asked the Navy for its assistance. Through the office of Adm. William Fechtler, chief of naval operations, the Navy agreed to transport the statue and its accessories aboard the Cascade to Newport. The three local Italian societies incurred all expenses for the transport.
The Florentine foundry shipped seven crates holding the statue, base and fence to Livorno, Italy, a port city on the Liguria Sea southeast of Genoa, and sent word to the Cascade in La Spezia, Italy, about 75 miles from Livorno. The commanding officer, Capt. Rob Roy McGregor, thought it would be easier to bring the statue to La Spezia than for the ship to go to Livorno, so the statue was brought to La Spezia. On the day of departure, there was a four-hour delay because Italian customs refused to load the statue crates because they did not have the proper clearance.On June 19, 1953, Gabriel D. Russo was notified that the statue would arrive at Melville two days later. That day, Russo, his father, Pasquale, Gabe's two sons Paul, 10, and Bryan, 5, Donato F. D’Andrea, Enrico Cassese, Michael DeRensis, Mrs. Augustin Bucci and truck driver Stephen Toppa witnessed the unloading of the crates. Following the unloading, the two young boys were taken on a tour of the Cascade.
Initially, the crates were taken to the MCM truck warehouse on Chapel Street. Later, the crates were moved to Alfredo Sciarotta, silversmith and metalworker, for assembly.On Columbus Day 1953, the statute was finally installed.
Genoa Newport Nina Newport, Rhode Island Livorno Rob Roy McGregor Pinta Mediterranean Santa Maria La Spezia Christopher Columbus La Spezia, Italy USS Cascade Livorno, Italy