Vittori has depicted "the perennial genius of the Italian race" in the symbolic figure of a young white man in the center of the frieze.

He is scantily dressed in a barely-there flowing garment, echoing traditional artistic representations of Roman gods.

Vittori has dressed this Chief in stereotypical feathered headdress, and positioned him kneeling at the left foot of the white man, looking upward in awe of the perennial genius of the Italian race.

Vittori has sculpted the chief with his lips reaching upward and pursed as if straining to kiss the hem of the noble man's garment.

Vittoria poses the black race standing at the white man's right hand, symbolizing his eagerness to serve.

At the right foot of the "perennial genius of the Italian race," also a position of subordination, kneels a figure representing white womanhood.

[2] The carving on the front of the pedestal depicts a figure grouping with a man draped in fabric and wearing a crown of laurels standing in the center.

The relief on the pedestal's proper left side is a profile view of a seated woman resting her right elbow on a globe.

[6] This one contains the line, "May the genius abiding in the Italian Race encourage tolerance and acceptance of all cultures as America's ultimate contribution to humanity."

[1][2] It was commissioned with proceeds from a fundraising campaign led by Vincent A. LaPenta, a surgeon and scientist who presided over the executive committee of Italian Propaganda.

[2] Christopher Columbus was installed on the Indiana Statehouse lawn shortly after its completion and has not been moved or viewed in any other location.

[2] However, the initial proposal for the sculpture requested that the piece be erected in one of the Indianapolis parks, and the location of "University Square" was listed as a potential site for the monument.