Large original period albumen photograph of a schematic drawing of the Statue of Liberty installation project, signed in the negative lower right "Bartholdi." Albumen measuring 5.6 x 8.75 inches (14.7 x 22 cm); 13.5 x 16 inches (34.5 x 40 cm) overall.  Scattered foxing and toning and some nicks, small tears to mount, else fine. Provenance: from the archives of Paul Meurice, French novelist and playwright best known for his friendship with Victor Hugo.

Frédéric Bartholdi drew inspiration from Victor Hugo as he traveled America to pitch the creation of a giant statue. Thirteen years later, Bartholdi filed a patent for his statue in 1884 and Victor Hugo visited the massive construction site of the statue in Bartholdi's Paris workshop on November 29, 1884, the artist creating a plaque to commemorate the visit. A witness reports the scene: “He is there, silent, hands in his pockets, as if he were alone. Then with a strong voice, slowly, he said, looking at the colossal statue: “these two hundred thousand kilos of metal which will face France, there: the sea, this great agitated one, notes the union of the two great lands, peaceful!" (...) "Yes, this beautiful work aims at what I have always loved, called: peace. Between America and France - France which is Europe - this pledge of peace will remain permanent. It was good that this was done."