Giuseppe Verdi, by Pasquale Civiletti, 1906
White Carrara marble on granite pedestal, total height 25.5 feet. West 73rd St. and Broadway, New York, New York, USA.

At the memorial's unveiling in 1906, only five years after the composer's death, 10,000 people watched as a balloon was released, climaxing a parade, speeches, and musical performances. "As it rose," write historians Michele Cohen and Margot Gayle, "it set free twelve doves, lifted the red, white, and green veil from the statue, and showered the spectators with flowers."

Pasquale and his brother Salvatore stayed with my grandfather's family while working on the sculpture. In return for their hospitality, they were given an oil painting done by Salvatore of what appears to be a castle or fort above a harbor. I haven't seen the painting for over 40 years but it is in my aunt's possession.