Consider the Statue of Liberty. It is more than just a monument. It embodies freedom. It symbolizes the United States.
The Statue of Liberty stands tall on Liberty Island. The island lies in New York Harbor. The statue is a colossal neoclassical sculpture. France gifted the copper-clad statue to the United States. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed it. Gustave Eiffel built its metal framework. The statue’s dedication occurred on October 28, 1886.
The Statue of Liberty represents Libertas. She is the Roman goddess of freedom. She holds a torch high in her right hand. In her left hand, she holds a tabula ansata. It displays the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The date is JULY IV MDCCLXXVI. That is July 4, 1776 in Roman numerals. Her left foot treads upon a broken chain and shackle. This action commemorates the abolition of slavery after the American Civil War.
The idea for the Statue of Liberty arose in 1865. French historian Édouard de Laboulaye proposed it. He wanted to commemorate the centennial of U.S. independence. He also wanted to honor American democracy. The Franco-Prussian War delayed the project.
In 1875, Laboulaye suggested France finance the statue. He also suggested the United States provide the site and build the pedestal. Bartholdi finished the head and torch-bearing arm early. He displayed them at international expositions for publicity.
Fundraising was difficult especially for the Americans. Joseph Pulitzer of the New York World launched a donation drive. Over 120000 people contributed mostly less than a dollar. The Statue of Liberty was built in France. It was shipped in crates. It was assembled on Bedloe’s Island now Liberty Island.
The statue was first managed by the United States Lighthouse Board. Later the Department of War took over. Since 1933, the National Park Service maintains it. It is now part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. It is a major attraction.
Édouard René de Laboulaye proposed the idea of the statue. He was president of the French Anti-Slavery Society. He was an important political thinker. Bartholdi recounted that Laboulaye’s comment inspired him.
Bartholdi traveled to Egypt in 1856 to study ancient works. He planned a lighthouse for the Suez Canal. It was to be a female peasant holding a torch. But the Khedive of Egypt declined it due to cost.
Bartholdi chose copper over bronze or stone. Copper was cheaper lighter and easier to transport. The Franco-Prussian War further delayed the project.
Bartholdi visited the United States in 1871. He chose Bedloe’s Island as the site. He met President Ulysses S. Grant. Grant assured him that obtaining the site would be easy.
Bartholdi made his first model in 1870. He continued developing the concept after returning to France. He also created sculptures to boost French patriotism. One was the Lion of Belfort.
Bartholdi and Laboulaye considered how to represent American liberty. Two female figures were common symbols. One was Columbia. The other was Liberty from the Roman goddess Libertas.
The statue’s design evokes ancient iconography. It includes Egyptian Greek Roman and Christian influences. Artists used Libertas to symbolize republican ideals. Bartholdi avoided a revolutionary image. His figure is fully dressed. He chose a torch to represent progress.
The Statue of Liberty has one foot set back in a contrapposto pose. This stance signifies a solid footing. It also introduces tension between standing and moving forward. Bartholdi placed a tabula ansata in Liberty’s left hand. He inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI on it. This links the Declaration of Independence to liberty.
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc helped with the design. He proposed a brick pier inside the statue. Gustave Eiffel later built an iron truss tower. This allowed the statue to move in the wind. Eiffel insulated the skin with asbestos to prevent corrosion. The Statue of Liberty became an early example of curtain wall construction.
In 1875, Laboulaye announced the project. He called the statue Liberty Enlightening the World. The French people would fund the statue. Americans would pay for the pedestal.
The French raised about $250000. The United States needed to raise $300000. The French steamer Isère arrived in New York on June 17 1885. It carried the disassembled statue. New Yorkers showed great enthusiasm.
Richard Morris Hunt designed the pedestal. It has elements of classical and Aztec architecture. Fundraising in the U.S. was slow. Emma Lazarus wrote the poem “The New Colossus”. It includes the famous lines “Give me your tired your poor”. Joseph Pulitzer launched a drive to raise funds. He pledged to print every contributor’s name.
The Statue of Liberty a symbol of hope and freedom continues to inspire.