Modèle du Comité of the Statue of Liberty

Sculpture

-

Drexel Founding Collection

Photographed by Lynn Waddell, June 15, 2026: 856 front
Photographed by Lynn Waddell, June 15, 2026

856 front

Name/Title

Modèle du Comité of the Statue of Liberty

Entry/Object ID

856

Category

Sculpture

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Anthony J. Drexel, Philadelphia

Notes

Credit Line: Gift of Anthony J. Drexel, 1891-1893

Made/Created

Artist

Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi

Date made

circa 1876

Place

Country

France

Continent

Europe

Dimensions

Dimension Notes

H, W, D: 37x15 x12 in; H, W, D: 93.98x38.1x30.48 cm

Height

37 in

Width

15 in

Depth

12 in

Height

93.98 cm

Width

38.1 cm

Depth

30.48 cm

Provenance

Notes

Purchased at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition

Exhibitions

Curator Pick of the Month
Liberty Enlightening the World

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Curator Pick of the Month

Label

What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than with the Modèle du Comité, a model of the Statute of Liberty. The model is made by the same sculptor as the actual statue, Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi. It is possible that A. J. Drexel met Bartholdi because they were both members of the Franco-American alliance, a group dedicated to raise funds to build the pedestal for the statue in New York. In order to raise funds for the project, models like this were sold. This model is numbered “50,” and is one of only four that remain today. The sculpture was displayed in the Christie’s exhibition “Images of Liberty: Models and Reproductions of the Statue of Liberty 1867 – 1917” in 1986, and now has a prominent home in the Main Building’s Great Court.

General Notes

Note

This "Modèle du Comité" - model of the committee - is #50 of possibly 200 models made for fundraising at the 1876 Philadelphia International Exposition by the Franco-American Committee, which was responsible for raising funds for The Statue of Liberty and her pedestal in New York, New York. It is not known whether all 200 models were made since the #50 is the highest in numerical sequence identified. Both Anthony J. Drexel and his brother, Joseph W. Drexel served on the Franco-American Committee. Displayed in Christie's exhibition "Images of Liberty: Models and Reproductions of the Statue of Liberty 1867-1917" from January 25-February 15, 1986.