Embassy of the United States Paris, France

The Statue (DOS photo)

In the days leading up to Independence Day, the Ambassador of the United States Charles Rivkin and his wife Susan Tolson attended a ceremony celebrating Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi’s piece Freedom Enlightening the World, in presence of Senate President Jean-Pierre Bel and Orsay museum President Guy Cogeval.  Bartholdi created the sculpture in 1889 and donated it to the French government after World Fair 1900 for installation in the Luxembourg Museum in 1901.  Most recently, the sculpture was moved, with Senate approval, from the Luxembourg gardens to the Musée d’Orsay.  The sculpture’s restoration was completed thanks to the patronage of the American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay (AFMO), where Ms. Tolson is currently serving as honorary chair.