Saving Liberty

AFMO funded the restoration of a bronze figure of Liberty Enlightening the World by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Bartholdi cast the bronze from one of his preliminary studies for his colossal New York sculpture more popularly known as the “Statue of Liberty.” This was AFMO’s first funding project at the musée d’Orsay.

The 9-foot tall Liberty stood next to the Sénat building in the Jardins de Luxembourg for over 100 years. It was removed from the park in December 2011 after it was damaged by vandalism. AFMO celebrated the restoration with an inauguration reception on July 2, 2012.

Today, it stands tall at the bottom of the stairs and welcomes visitors into the nave.