Existing comment:
Giuseppe Mazzini
Commissioned by a group of Italian-Americans, this bronze bust of the Italian patriot, philosopher, and politician overlooks Sheep Meadow. Dedicated in 1878, the piece was created by Italian-born sculptor Giovanni Turini. Two Italian phrases are inscribed on the bust's granite pedestal, translating to "thought and action" and "God and the people."
Born in Genoa and trained as a lawyer, Mazzini worked for the unification of Italy during the mid-19th century, managing to influence political opinion even in exile. It is said that 80,000 people attended his funeral in Pisa in 1872.
In 1994, the Conservancy's conservation and preservation team restored and cleaned the sculpture. |