Alan Pascuzzi, a Florence-based sculptor, painter, author, professor of art history at FSU Florence, and the artist behind the “Vires, Artes, Mores” at FSU Florence and the new replicas in the Student Union. (Bill Lax/Florida State University)
Florida State University unveiled three new striking bronze statues in the Student Union last week titled “Vires, Artes, Mores,” representing the university’s core values of strength, skill, and character.
Cast from the same molds originally created for sculptures displayed at the FSU Florence Study Center, the statues bring a piece of FSU’s international heritage home to Tallahassee.
Standing over eight feet tall atop custom pedestals crafted by the FSU Master Craftsman Studio, the figures are nearly identical to their counterparts at FSU Florence. Their Renaissance design evokes the rich artistic legacy of Florence, while their presence on campus serves as a powerful symbol of discovery, resilience and global connection.
“The commitment that we have at Florida State University to our international programs is profound,” FSU President Richard McCullough said. “These figures will be a lasting reminder of everything that we stand for and our enduring connection to the world. These statues are powerful reminders of what makes us Florida State University— strength, skill, and character.”
FSU President Richard McCullough addresses attendees during an unveiling ceremony for the new “Vires, Artes, Mores” statues in the Student Union Thursday, Oct. 30. (Bill Lax/FSU Photography)FSU President Richard McCullough addresses attendees during an unveiling ceremony for the new “Vires, Artes, Mores” statues in the Student Union Thursday, Oct. 30. (Bill Lax/FSU Photography)
The statues were first created for the Florence Study Center in 2021 by Alan Pascuzzi, a Florence-based sculptor, painter, author and professor of art history at FSU Florence. Inspired by Botticelli’s Primavera and the concept of the Three Graces, Pascuzzi collaborated with then-director Frank Nero to design figures that embodied FSU’s guiding virtues.
“The first statues in Florence were an idea that grew from a friendship,” Pascuzzi said. “We came up with the idea of a work of art that tied Renaissance art with Florida State University virtues.”
Originally from Webster, New York, Pascuzzi earned his doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, before earning a Fulbright scholarship to Florence. His art can be found across the globe, with works featured throughout Italy and the Vatican, as well as other destinations in Europe, China, the U.S., and Australia.
(L to R) Alan Pascuzzi, professor of art history at FSU Florence and the artist behind the “Vires, Artes, Mores” statues, Charlie Panarella, director of FSU Florence, and Chris Iansiti, chair of the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees. (Bill Lax/Florida State University)Louisa Blenman, interim director of International Programs, addresses attendees at an unveiling ceremony for the new “Vires, Artes, Mores” statues in the Student Union Thursday, Oct. 30. (Bill Lax/Florida State University)
Since its founding in 1966, FSU Florence has welcomed thousands of students seeking immersive international experiences. Just weeks after the arrival of the first cohort of students, the program faced the devastating Great Flood of Florence, during which FSU students and faculty joined local efforts to clean the city, earning the nickname Gli angeli del fango— “Mud Angels.”
“It’s a surreal experience,” said Charlie Panarella, director of FSU Florence, who was in Tallahassee for the unveiling. “I’m so used to seeing the statues every day at our study center, and to see them here cements the link between Florence and Florida State. I think it will inspire other students here at Florida State to study abroad, which is something that truly changes people’s lives.”
The original “Vires, Artes, Mores” statues at FSU Florence. (International Programs)
Today, the center hosts more than 600 students annually, offering courses in everything from real estate to wine and culture, all within a restored 16th-century palace near Florence’s historic landmarks.
“You can see it on students’ faces when you’re walking through the study center,” said FSU Board of Trustees Chairman Peter Collins. “Even though you’re thousands of miles away, it still feels like Florida State.”
While the Florence statues feature details specific to their Italian setting—such as a lily (fleur-de-lys) for Florence—the Tallahassee versions were adapted with local symbolism, like an orange blossom, to reflect Florida’s identity. Both sets honor the same virtues, but their iconography and inscriptions were thoughtfully tailored to their respective locations, connecting tradition and place.
The Vires, Artes, Mores statues now stand in a quiet alcove on the southwest side of the Student Union’s first floor, inviting students to reflect on the university’s values and its enduring connection to the world beyond campus.