Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (1834

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Biography

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was a French sculptor and painter. He is best known for designing Liberty Enlightening the World, commonly known as the Statue of Liberty, in New York City, United States.

Timeline

The story of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, told in moments.

1856 Event

Traveled to Egypt at 22. The colossal statues at Abu Simbel changed everything. He became obsessed with monumental sculpture.

What did the statues at Abu Simbel do to you at 22? Was that the moment everything changed?

1870 Event

Fought in the Franco-Prussian War. His hometown of Colmar fell to Prussia. He never got over it. The loss fed his desire to build something that symbolized freedom.

Did losing Colmar to Prussia drive the Statue of Liberty? What were you trying to build -- a gift or a statement?

1886 Event

The Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York Harbor. Bartholdi had spent 21 years on the project. The French paid for the statue. Americans paid for the pedestal. Both sides nearly ran out of money.

Was 21 years on one project devotion or obsession? What did it feel like seeing Liberty in the harbor?

Artifacts (1)

The Statue of Liberty enlightening the world

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright term has...

1885

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