Sunday Morning, an elegant, informative program (CBS), that airs on…Sunday Morning,
recently showed their viewers a reduced version of Lady Liberty being installed on Ellis Island, with a formidable view of the actual Statue of Liberty in the background. The CMA-CGM Group transported the smaller version of the bronze statue, which had been on exhibit for 10 years in the CMAN’s square forecourt in Paris and was now slated to celebrate the 4th of July here in the USA.
This smaller version of Lady Liberty is nearly 10’ tall and weighs almost 1,000 pounds. She was made from the original 1878 plaster model by Auguste Bartholdi. Eventually, she will preside at the French Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C., for the next 10 years.
Now, here is the Miami connection. Thanks to the generosity of Olivier and Caroline Haligon, (Haligon Fine Art, Inc., Miami), who own a copy of the head of the Statue of Liberty which stands above 7’ high and reaches 7’ wide, will have a temporary home in the courtyard of the Consul General of France in SW Miami for a month.
From generation to generation, the Haligon family has preserved the ‘know-how’ of their ancestor, Louis Haligon who contributed to the enlargement of the original statue sculpture by Auguste Bartholdi. The initial plasterwork was enlarged more than four times thanks to a tool that Louis Haligon mastered successfully, which is known as a pantograph.
The noble Lady Liberty represents the friendship between France and the United States.
The day the Statue of Liberty was unveiled (10/28/1886), Auguste Bartholdi said:
“Mon Americaine does not conquer with weapons. True liberty triumphs through Truth, Justice and Law. She wears a flowing robe like the ancient goddesses, Libertas. Her right foot is raised. Liberty walks. Freedom never stands still. A broken shackie and chain lie near her feet. America broke the links of slavery to fulfill its promise of equality for all. In one hand, she holds a tablet engraved with July 4, 1776; in the other hand, she holds a torch-the one that illuminates and gives hope. Every part of her shouts Liberty!”
