French sculptor; born in Calmar, Alsace, April 2, 1834; received the Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1865, and is best known in the
United States by his colossal statue in New York Harbor, entitled
Liberty enlightening the world.
His other works include a statue of
Lafayette in Union Square, New York, and a bronze group of
Lafayette and
Washington, presented by American citizens to the city of
Paris, and unveiled Dec. 1, 1895.
Soon after the establishment of the republic of
France, in 1870, a movement was inaugurated in that country for the presentation to the
United States of some suitable memorial to testify to the fraternal feeling existing between the two countries.
In 1874 an association, known as the French-American Union, was formed for the furtherance of this object, and most of the foremost men of
France lent it their aid. It was decided to present
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to the
United States a colossal statue of
Liberty enlightening the world, and more than 1,000,000 francs were raised by popular subscription for that purpose.
Of the
|
Bartholdi's statute of liberty in New York Harbor. |
various models submitted to the committee having the matter in charge, that of
M. Bartholdi was selected as the best, and the statue was constructed by him.
It is the largest statue ever made, and the most conspicuous example of repousse work — that is, thin sheets of hammered brass laid over a framework work of iron.
First, a life-size clay statute after the design was made, then three plaster statutes, the first one-sixteenth, the second one-fourth the size of the complete work, and the third its full size, the last-named being made in sections, over a wooden frame-work.
The most accurate measurements were necessary in making these statues in order to preserve accurate proportions.
Then came the work of copying the full-size statue in wooden models.
These were all carefully made by hand, each piece exactly fitting every curve or irregularity of surface in some part of the figure.
Into these moulds the sheets of brass were laid and beaten down until they exactly fitted them.
There were 300 sheets of brass used, each from one to three yards square, and weighing in all 88 tons.
These form the outside of the statute.
When this was complete, the
iron frame-work or skeleton was formed on which the outer copper shell could be fastened.
The right
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hand and torch of this remarkable statue were shown at the
Centennial Exhibition at
Philadelphia in 1876.
The head was shown at the
Paris Exposition in 1879.
On July 4, 1880, the statue was formally delivered to the
United States through its representative, the
American minister at
Paris. Bedloe's Island, in New York Harbor, but lying within the boundaries of
New Jersey, was selected by the government as a suitable place for its erection, and money was raised by means of subscriptions, concerts, etc., to build a pedestal for it to rest upon.
On Oct. 28, 1886, the statue was unveiled in the presence of distinguished representatives of
France and the
United States, and was formally dedicated with imposing ceremonies.
The statue represents the Goddess of Liberty holding aloft a torch with which she enlightens the world.
The height of the statue from the base to the torch is 151 feet 1 inch. From the foundation of the pedestal to the torch it is 305 feet 6 inches. The figure weighs 450,000 pounds, or 225 tons, and contains 100 tons of bronze.
Forty persons can stand comfortably in the head, and the torch will hold twelve people.