13.36 - Do you know of French woman Isabella Boyer? - French names you should know...
There are 7 statues of Isabella Boyer in Paris, one in the USA. Then in France: one in Colmar, one in Bordeaux and another in Lyon. So why do we not know the name of this overly-familiar face?
Snippets to not miss: Paris, and further afield in France
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1. Do you know of French woman Isabella Eugénie Boyer?
If we all know so much about France and Paris, then how come this name is not known to us? There are said to be 7 statues of Isabella Boyer in Paris and one in the USA. And elsewhere in France: one in Colmar, one in Bordeaux, and another in Lyon.
[Post publication EDIT: a MyFrenchLife.org member has informed me of another replica mini statue at Saint Cyr Sur Mer]
So… why do we not know the name of this overly familiar face?
Isabella Boyer was a French-American model and heiress. She married Isaac Merritt Singer, the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Co. in New York City, in 1863 when Isaac was 52 and Isabella was only 22.
There is currently an active debate about the authenticity of the claim that Isabella Eugénie Boyer was the model for the Statue of Liberty. The facial likeness is said to be of both Isabella and her mother… and there are also other random claims.
Irrespective of the validity of that claim how much do you know about the Statue of Liberty? Let’s see shall we?
The robed female figure represents Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. Rumour has it that the facial model was Parisian Isabella Eugénie Boyer or her mother, and also of Charlotte, the mother of the sculptor. Impossible to verify, it seems.
She holds a torch and tablet upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776).
From the ground to the top of the torch the statue measures 93 metres and weighs 204 metric tonnes. Lady Liberty wears a size 879 shoe and she has a 35-foot waistline.
Visitors have to climb 354 stairs to reach the statue’s crown where there are 25 windows. The seven spikes on the crown represent the seven oceans and the seven continents of the world, indicating the universal concept of liberty.
Designer Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi during construction of hand section CREDIT: Bettmann - Getty Images
Edouard de Laboulaye provided the idea for the statue, while Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi designed and sculpted it. Laboulaye proposed that a great monument should be given as a gift from France to the United States as a celebration of both the Union’s victory in the American Revolution and the abolition of slavery. He also hoped the gift of the statue would inspire French people to fight for their own democracy in the face of a repressive monarchy under Napoleon III.
Gustave Eiffel, the man who designed the Eiffel Tower was also behind the design for Liberty’s ‘spine’; four iron columns supporting a metal framework that holds the copper skin.
Although you cannot see Lady Liberty’s feet clearly she is in fact standing among broken shackles and chains, with her right foot raised, depicting her moving forward away from oppression and slavery. Despite the positive meaning of the statue - American independence and the abolition of slavery - African Americans saw the statue as an ironic image of America; professing to be a country of freedom and justice for everyone regardless of race, despite racism and discrimination continuing to exist.
The Statue of Liberty became the symbol of immigration during the second half of the 19th century, as over nine million immigrants came to the United States, with the statue often being the first thing they saw when arriving by boat.
“Our decision to stay somewhat remote B&B was fortuitous. The owner, granddaughter to the former winemakers, had recently discovered a full underground cellar. She offered us a bottle of 1929 Vin Jaune to share with her.” said MyFrenchLife Magazine Contributor Craig Healey Discover more…
Interesting. I grew up in New York in Long Island until the age of 12. When I was 10 we went in a field trip to the Statue of Liberty and I remember climbing up to the crown. It scared the life out of me to be up so high.
I love this statue and have been many times. It’s impressive and means so much to our country.
I enjoyed reading this history. There’s also a mini statue in Saint Cyr Sur Mer. It symbolizes the town being liberated during the war by the Americans.
Interesting. I grew up in New York in Long Island until the age of 12. When I was 10 we went in a field trip to the Statue of Liberty and I remember climbing up to the crown. It scared the life out of me to be up so high.
I love this statue and have been many times. It’s impressive and means so much to our country.
I enjoyed reading this history. There’s also a mini statue in Saint Cyr Sur Mer. It symbolizes the town being liberated during the war by the Americans.
Lady Liberty has gotten around 🗽