Putting Poetry on a Pedestal:
Unvealing the Restored DANTE ALIGHIERI Monument
on Belle Isle.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, The Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, with the contribution of its membership, Dante Michigan reserve funds, a contribution from the Società Dante Alighieri headquartered in Rome, and LoveItDetroit project funds, proudly unveiled the newly restored Dante Alighieri monument on Belle Isle.
The major restoration project, affirming the significance of Dante’s work in promoting understanding and appreciation of Italian culture, comprises the bust cleaning, a new pedestal, a restored travertine base, an additional cement base board, and a new plaque.
The event is part of the LoveITDetroit project, which celebrates Italian culture and heritage in the city. It is particularly noteworthy this year because of the Centennial Anniversary of the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan. The restoration also has a significant impact, as the Italian community aims to continue giving back to Detroit.
The LoveITDetroit project was founded in 2021 and wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of many: the sponsors, the volunteers, the contributors (both from Italy and locally), the vendors, and all Italians and Detroiters who have participated with great enthusiasm in this coming together with a unity of purpose. The Consulate of Italy in Detroit and the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan donated the new base and pedestal as a gift to the City of Detroit as a symbol of our shared friendship and resilience.
Consul of Italy in Detroit Allegra Baistrocchi opened the ceremony with a quote from the famous poet: “Consider your origins: you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge.” She explained that Dante was the first to write not in Latin but in the Lingua Volgare, or the vernacular, which was the dialect of Tuscany and eventually became the standard Italian language. Consul Baistrocchi stated that The Dante Alighieri Society is a society that promotes the Italian language and culture around the world. Founded in 1889, this society is present in more than 60 countries. The Michigan chapter was founded in 1924 and, in 2024, proudly celebrates its 100th anniversary. Consul Baistrocchi expressed her gratitude to Lia Adelfi, President of the Dante Alighieri of Michigan, for her tireless work in making the restoration a reality. She also thanked Mayor Duggan, the City of Detroit, and the Department of Natural Resources, which operates Belle Isle.
Keith Butler, Detroit District 5 Deputy Manager, presented a proclamation from the City of Detroit to honor the unveiling and the 100th anniversary of the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan. Like Dante in The Divine Comedy, he joked that Detroit had made it through nine inferno levels.
Lia Adelfi thanked the Consulate of Italy in Detroit, the Board of Directors, the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan membership, and the community for their support. She acknowledged Wayne State University faculty members Silvia Giorgini-Althoen and Irene Marletta, as well as their Italian students, who were in attendance. Lia introduced Amanda Treadwell, who offered congratulations on behalf of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Dante Alighieri Statue on Belle Isle
The journey of the Dante bust in Detroit is a story marked by artistic vision, cultural pride, bureaucratic challenges, and a testament to perseverance.
In 1921, as the world commemorated the 600th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s death, the Italian community in Detroit sought to honor the legendary poet with a bust. They commissioned Carlo Rivalta, a prominent Italian sculptor, to create the work. However, Rivalta’s bust did not meet the expectations of the commissioning committees. Caught in a web of disagreements over its design and presentation, the Public library (where the bust was to be housed) ultimately rejected it. The Rivalta Statue was left without a home and donated to the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it found a temporary refuge.
The Italian community thus encountered obstacles in their mission to honor Dante, but they persisted.
Raffaello Romanelli, a renowned Italian sculptor, was commissioned to create a second bust of Dante. However, the new bust faced challenges upon arrival in Detroit, as it was considered too large for the intended space in the library. Consequently, it was placed in storage with an uncertain fate.
In 1927, efforts spearheaded by Consul Pietro Cardiello and Vincenzo Giuliano, editor of “La Voce del Popolo” (The Italian Tribune), led to a breakthrough. The City Plan Commission recognized the Dante bust as having cultural and historical significance and agreed to erect it on Belle Isle, Detroit.
The original pedestal, also brought over from Italy, symbolized a bridge between the old world and the new, a fitting foundation for the poet who continues to bridge cultures and centuries.
Despite finally being displayed, the Dante bust faced ongoing challenges, such as environmental wear and the passage of time, which affected its condition. Periodic restoration efforts were necessary to preserve its beauty and integrity. Each restoration was a delicate balance of respecting the original artistry while using modern techniques to ensure longevity.
Today, the Dante Alighieri bust is a tribute to a literary giant and a symbol of perseverance and community pride. Its journey from creation to acceptance, through challenges and restoration, reflects the resilience of Detroit’s Italian community and its unwavering dedication to celebrating its heritage. The bust’s presence serves as a reminder of the enduring power of art to unite and inspire across generations.
