Unusual Bronze Sculpture on NYU Campus Worth a Visit

Bronze Sculpture of Miguel Cervantes

It is not as hard as you might have thought to have an interesting experience in New York without spending much money. You just have to be willing to go off the beaten path a bit, and be open minded.

Have you ever noticed on the campus of New York University a wonderful bronze sculpture of one of the world’s greatest literary figures to have ever lived?  Another hint: he lived in the 16th century. Well, if you thought of Shakespeare then you would be wrong.  The sculpture I talking about is of Miguel Cervantes, Spanish writer born in 1547 and died in 1616.

Cervantes is best known for his work Don Quixote which is considered by many literary types to be the best novel ever written.

The sculpture was given to the city of New York in 1986 as a gift from the mayor of Madrid. Cervantes was first placed in Bryant Park, but was removed when the park underwent renovation. The sculpture was originally meant to be placed in Washington Square Park, but official thought it would not be able to withstand the activity it would be subjected to there, and was instead placed at the end of the long narrow mews on the campus of NYU, just a short walk north of Washington Square Park.

Go take a look at the work of art, and think of this quote from Cervantes:

“A private sin is not so prejudicial in this world, as a public indecency.”