Famous Fictional Figures: Prospero and Miranda, Central Park, NY, NY

Prospero and Miranda

Central Park

NY, NY

N 40° 46.842 W 073° 58.126

Short Description: 

A sculpture depicting two characters from Shakespeare's Tempest, Prospero and Miranda, is located outside the Delacorte Theatre, opposite W 81st Street in Central Park, New York City.

Long Description:

The sculpture titled The Tempest depicts the main characters of Shakespeare's tragicomedy - Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan and his daughter Miranda.

In this larger than life, somewhat abstract, bronze sculpture the magician Prospero is standing to the right of his daughter Miranda. He is sheltering Miranda under his left arm while casts a spell conjuring up a tempest with his right hand. The details of the sculpture are created in a rough cast, suggestive style. Milton Hebald created the sculpture which was installed in front of Central Park's Delacorte Theatre in 1973. The sculpture rests on a rectangular granite base that is inscribed:

THE TEMPEST

GIFT OF GEORGE DELACORTE

Prospero is a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan,, He together with his daughter Miranda have been deposed and exiled for twelve years on an island by Prospero's jealous brother Antonio.

The play takes it's title from the action of Prospero that, divining that his brother Antonio is on a nearby ship, raises a tempest that causes the passengers to believe they are shipwrecked and marooned.

Prospero has been played by Sir Michael Redgrave and most recently by Patrick Stewart. Miranda has most recently been played by Felicity Jones