A look at the Statue of Liberty as a timeless work of art and as a political statement by those who conceived it and by their contemporaries in the late 19th century. This is the first essay in Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide, published in 2007, expanded with archival illustrations, close-up views of Liberty, more quotes from sculptor Bartholdi and his contemporaries, out-takes, and tips on photographing outdoor sculptures in New York.