Remarks by Peter Dent on behalf of the Dent Family during the dedication in Milan, Italy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse, the bronze statute (as published in the fall/winter edition of The Scribe: The Journal of Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse, Inc.)

 

On behalf of the Dent family, I wish to thank the many people on both sides of the Atlantic for bringing this Horse here today. Most especially, I thank the board of Trustees and staff of Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse. Each of whose unpaid or voluntary work can be measured in “man-years.” I thank every one of you from the bottom of my heart for your dedication in fulfilling your promises to Charlie Dent before he died almost five years ago. I thank you for your perseverance through painful scrutiny, inconceivable hours and gut wrenching decisions, for what was understandably called a Don Quixote like effort at times; persisting through it all to make it a reality, without ever doubting it would happen along the way.

This is a euphoric moment for our Dent Family. For today, together, we witness and celebrate the birth of the Horse. After a gestation period of over 500 years, we welcome this Horse into the world. Our beloved uncle had no children of his own. However, today I feel as though our family  celebrates with you the birth of a child. A huge and magnificent child borne of my uncle’s love of the people of Italy and passion for the Italian Renaissance. We give our child to you, the Italian people, freely in a spirit of love and affection.

Our family is deeply moved by the outpouring of appreciation by Americans and Italians alike for Charlie’s inspiration to make this gift to the people of Italy, a reality. We are extremely honored that the Horse is located in this beautiful setting. We are immensely pleased that the Horse will be the focal point of this new Cultural Park sponsored by Snai. Our family name is flattered to even be associated with the name of Leonardo da Vinci; the person who defines the term “renaissance man”; a man who possessed the greatest mind human history has ever known.

Here we shall see the Horse living on to inspire the people and especially the youth of the world in the spirit of Leonardo and the Italian renaissance in this magnificent city. Although I and our family have no Italian blood flowing through our veins, we are profoundly moved by the spirit of the Italian renaissance. As a result, I feel we have each grown a partly Italian soul.

I feel my uncle’s presence here among us today. I hope that Italians find inspiration in Charlie Dent’s ability to prove that an ordinary man, full of extraordinary vision and hope for the world, from the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, can dare to dream big dreams; - And to be bold enough to make his biggest dreams a reality; in life as well as after death. This is truly an American spirit embodied by this gift, which I hope will influence the people of Italy; so that they too can perhaps grow a bit of an American soul.

I hope the many people of the world who come to visit this cultural park here in Italy and those who will come visit this horse’s younger brother in the Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, and those youth who are assisted by the future Leonardo da Vinci Educational Endowment, will better understand the Italian gift to the world of renaissance thought and the pervasive mind of Leonardo. I also hope they will learn of the truly American gift to the world; -to dream the impossible, and make it happen. Since both gifts are intertwined and embodied in the physical work of this Horse, brilliantly sculpted by Nina Akamu, I hope that all of humankind can grow in part, an Italian-American soul.

Long live the horse!

 

Viva Il Cavallo!