Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
He gave America its most potent symbol of freedom, a colossal copper goddess that welcomed millions to New York Harbor.
1834–1904 (age 70)·French sculptor and painter·Birthday: August 2
Biography
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was a French artist whose ambition was cast on a monumental scale. Born in Colmar, he developed a passion for large-scale public art and patriotic themes. The project that consumed decades of his life was 'Liberty Enlightening the World,' a gift from France to the United States commemorating their alliance. Bartholdi wasn't just the sculptor; he was the entrepreneurial force behind it, traveling to America to secure the site, designing the internal structure with Gustave Eiffel, and overseeing fundraising efforts on both continents. His workshop outside Paris became a factory where the statue was constructed in sections. While he created other large works, like the Lion of Belfort, his legacy is forever anchored to the green patina of Liberty's copper skin, an enduring emblem of hope and refuge.
#1 When Frédéric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1834
Frédéric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1834Born
1839Started school
1847Became a teenager
1850Could drive
1852Could vote
1855Turned 21
1864Turned 30
President: Abraham Lincoln
1874Turned 40
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1884Turned 50
President: Chester A. Arthur
1894Turned 60
President: Grover Cleveland
1904Turned 70
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
Key Achievements
- Designed and oversaw the creation of the Statue of Liberty, dedicated in New York Harbor in 1886.
- Created the monumental 'Lion of Belfort' sandstone sculpture in France to commemorate the city's resistance during the Franco-Prussian War.
- Served as a key fundraiser and project manager for the Statue of Liberty, championing the project for over 20 years.
Did You Know?
Bartholdi's mother's face is said to have been the model for the Statue of Liberty's stern, classical features.
He initially proposed a similar colossal lighthouse statue for the Suez Canal in Egypt, which was never built.
A smaller bronze model of the Statue of Liberty stands on a bridge in Paris, facing west toward its larger sibling.
“The statue should be a joint work of both nations, a memorial to their old friendship and a symbol of their present mutual good will.”
