Statue of Liberty construction. Workmen constructing the Statue of Liberty in Parisian warehouse workshop of the French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904). This is the first model, with parts of the left hand and a quarter-size head visible. This image was obtained in around the winter of 1882. The photographer was Albert Fernique (c.1841-1898). This statue, which was originally known as Liberty Enlightening the World, took the form of a woman holding a torch and a book. The final figure was 46.4 metres tall, made from copper plates riveted to an iron framework. The design by Frederic Bartholdi was executed by Gustav Eiffel. The statue was given by France to the USA to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1776 American Declaration of Independence.