Monday, March 11, 2013

Giuseppe Garibaldi

The hero of Italian Risorgimento Giuseppe Garibaldi died on 2 June 1882 on the Caprera island. For many municipal authorities, every other consideration apart, this event started a race to erect a monument to the Hero of the Two Worlds in their own quickly renamed “Piazza Garibaldi”.
Statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi by Augusto Rivalta, Livorno
Livorno fared quite well with a beautiful statue by Augusto Rivalta, which was ready in 1889: they even had time to organize a parallel unveiling with Lucca and Como.
Statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi by Urbano Lucchesi, Lucca
The monument in Lucca by Urbano Lucchesi shows us a slightly less heroic Garibaldi. As we have already said, it was unveiled the same day of the one in Livorno, on 22 September 1889.
Statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi by Ettore Ferrari, Pisa
The Pisans, as always, were late: they got their monument only on 26 June 1892. However, the bronze statue by Ettore Ferrari shows us a very down-to-earth Garibaldi in shirtsleeves, without the cloak and with a hand on his flank.
If Tuscans were timely with their tributes, the Italian-American community of New York was even more so: the Garibaldi monument in Washington Square Park, a work by the sculptor Giovanni Turini, was dedicated on 4 June 1888.

See also: Garibaldi
External links: Garibaldi (Rome) - Garibaldi (Paris) - Garibaldi (New York) - Garibaldi (Venice)

11 comments:

Michelle said...

Very distinguished.

Anonymous said...

Somewhere I have heard that name, sorry for missing where and when. These are great sculptures. Please have a good new week ahead.

Jack said...

VP, this is an excellent post. I enjoyed seeing the three sculptural interpretations of Garibaldi and reading your commentary. If you go to Pisa, wear a mask.

cieldequimper said...

He certainly looks so much more dashing in Livorno!

Cezar and Léia said...

Different moments,and all sculptures are beautiful!
Léia

Lois Evensen said...

It's very interesting to compare the monuments. Nice.

Unknown said...

I agree with Ciel. Great post, VP.

Dina said...

An interesting race.
Forgive me, but I find the Pisa version rather refreshing.

VP said...

Dina - I agree...

Traveling Hawk said...

Beautiful statues of the national hero!

Arianna said...

Il secondo Garibaldi lo conosco bene :))) ciao, Arianna