Statue of Dante Alighieri (Meridian Hill Park)

About

Dante Alighieri is a public artwork by Italian sculptor Ettore Ximenes, located at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C., United States. The bronze statue on a granite base depicts Dante Alighieri, an Italian poet and philosopher who is considered one of the greatest literary figures of the Late Middle Ages. The idea for a statue honoring Dante was spearheaded by Italian American businessman and newspaper publisher Carlo Barsotti. The original is located in Dante Park in Manhattan with the replica in Meridian Hill Park. The dedication ceremony in Washington, D.C., was attended by officials from Italy, France, and the United States, including President Warren G. Harding. The statue is one of three public artworks in the city depicting Dante.