In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States’ Independence, the Musée d’Orsay is presenting an exhibition devoted to the work of Auguste Bartholdi, a man whose work is emblematic of French-American friendship: the Statue of Liberty. This exhibition looks back on Bartholdi’s career as an Alsatian sculptor and focuses on the birth of the Statue of Liberty, a project originally conceived for the Suez Canal and then turned into an allegorical figure celebrating American independence. This idea, which was promoted by the Franco-American Union, came to fruition following Bartholdi’s visits to the United States and the subsequent remarkable efforts made to raise the necessary funding. 

Please join us for an exclusive, before-hours guided tour of Auguste Bartholdi. Liberty Enlightening the World at the Musée d’Orsay on Friday, November 13th, 2026, at 9:00 AM.

Image: Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, Thiébaut frères, Liberté, 1889 © Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt