You Fine Sculpture
The full name is “Liberty Enlightening the World”
Although most people refer to this monument as the Bronze Statue of Liberty. In fact, this title is just the mainstream nickname. Officially, the sculpture was named “Liberty Enlightening the World”, a poetic name chosen by the French.
Although these nicknames may vary, both describe the character as a symbol of “freedom.” The translation of the Latin Libertas, the latter is a Roman goddess that reflects free thought.
France presented it to the United States in 1886
Want to know why the name of the sculpture can be found in France? The answer is simple: the Statue of Liberty is a French export!
In 1875, the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and his team began to build this bronze statues as gifts to the United States. Specifically, this is a friendly gesture after the American Civil War.
Small copies you can see throughout Paris
Throughout Paris, several replicas pay tribute to the French descent of the Statue of Liberty.
In the Musée d’Orsay Museum, Bartholdi himself shot a 9.4-foot replica. This sculpture was once in the garden of Luxembourg. Today, you can find a newer copy in its original location.
Another bronze replica of the same height stands outside the Museum of Art and the Métiers Museum, a museum dedicated to industrial design. Inside the museum, visitors will also find the original plaster model made by Bartholdi.
The final version can be found on the Seine man-made island Îleaux Cygnes. This sculpture is actually a gift from the United States, a way of saying “thank you” to “freedom to inspire the world.”
The statue is full of symbolism
Despite this, the Statue of Liberty continues to play an important role even without specific functions. In particular, since its inception, it has been known for its complex and comprehensive symbolism.
From her head, her crown consists of seven rays, referenced to seven continents and the ocean. To her toes, the chain of her feet is bound, the chains are successfully broken, the Statue of Liberty is Metaphor. On the one hand, the torch represents the enlightenment. On the other hand, the inscription on the law is engraved with “Julia IV MDCCLXXVI”, the day of American independence.
Even her position is symbolic because she faces the southeast to welcome ships into the port (such as, ships that bring immigrants to the United States).