Emma Stebbins' Blunder: A Flaw in Stone

In 1864, an American named Emma Stebbins received a commission for a monument in the heart of Brooklyn’s Columbus Park, a New York City first. Unveiled in 1867, the statue, called the Christopher Columbus Memorial, is made of Italian marble and limestone, a gift from Marshal O. Roberts. But take a close look at Columbus' right foot - you'll spot his index finger wavers off-kilter, and his toes curtly bow. Not Emma Stebbins' work, apparently. The artist behind this blunder remains a mystery, but it's generally assumed not hers. The question lingers: who designed that imperfect foot, and why in such a careless manner?

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons