A bust of Italian poet Dante Alighieri has stood over the courtyard of the Newburgh Public Library for more than three decades, but it may soon be on the move.

The Newburgh City Council approved a contract with Environmental Design & Research, Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Environmental Services, D.P.C. for the relocation of the Dante bust. This would be at the cost of $49,780.00. The purpose of the statue’s relocation, according to City Engineer Jason Morris, was at the request of the library to utilize the courtyard space.

The location of the statue has been determined to be Downing Park where it once stood, said City Manager Todd Venning.

Morris concurred with Venning.

“We’re gonna do an alternatives analysis and get public input, make sure that everyone agrees it’s the right spot, that’s part of this proposal to make sure everyone is on-board with that location,” said Morris.

The bust was sculpted by Paolo Salvatore Abbate and cast at the Roman Bronze Works foundry, according to waymarking.com The broze bust rests on a granite base surrounded by an iron fence.

It was a gift of the Italian Colony, a.k.a. the Sons of Italy, and dedicated on October 12, 1921. Its original home was in Downing Park, outside the pergola, overlooking tulip gardens and in the company of a sundial. The pergola, plagued by vandalism and graffiti, fell into disrepair and the park suffered from signs of neglect. In 1986, the bust was restored by the Newburgh Chapter of UNICO and relocated to the grounds of the library.

Dante Alighieri was born in the City of Florence in Republic of Florence about 1265. As a young man he he studied Tuscan poetry and the Provençal poetry of the troubadours, such as Arnaut Daniel, and the Latin writers of classical antiquity, including Cicero, Ovid and Virgil.

Dante is best known for writing the epic poem The Divine Comedy between 1308 and 1320. The poem is considered to be one of the greatest works in world literature.