Portrait of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi Paintings: The 4 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye

Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 4 works by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in our catalogue

In short

To the gallery's eye, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's most famous painting is Liberty Enlightening the World (1884), whose original hangs in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles. La Californie de jadis (1873) and La Californie nouvelle (1873) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 4 works by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in our catalog, the gallery presents the 4 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.

1834 – 1904, Colmar Most works: musée Bartholdi

The gallery's top 10 Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi paintings

1
Liberty Enlightening the World (1884) by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi

Liberty Enlightening the World

1884 · Bronze · Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles

To gaze upon an image inspired by "Liberty Enlightening the World" is to confront a monumental ideal—the very spirit of freedom itself. This breathtaking sculpture, conceived by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, transcends mere artistry; it is a profound declaration etched in bronze. The close-up view captures the exquisite detail of the figure, presenting her not just as a statue, but as an allegory given tangible form. One can almost feel the…

2
La Californie de jadis (1873) by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi

La Californie de jadis

1873 · Oil On Canvas · musée Bartholdi, Colmar

The composition of La Californie de jadis presents a wide, horizontal view of a gold mining site in California. In the foreground, several figures are positioned around a wooden sluice box, engaged in the manual process of washing gold. One figure works directly with the water in the sluice, while others manage equipment or dig into the earth. The terrain is rugged, characterized by irregular shapes of dirt and broken…

3
La Californie nouvelle (1873) by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi

La Californie nouvelle

1873 · Oil On Canvas · musée Bartholdi, Colmar

La Californie nouvelle is a painting by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. Created about 1873, this work offers a glimpse into the artist's multifaceted talent. While many associate his name with monumental sculpture, Bartholdi was also a practiced painter. This piece captures a specific moment of pastoral life, rendered with a focus on the quiet rhythms of agricultural labor.

The subjects that held Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

The museums that keep Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's originals

The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi Paintings from this list
musée Bartholdi, Colmarmusée Bartholdi Colmar 3 La Californie de jadis, La Californie nouvelle, Les gamins sont partout les mêmes
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los AngelesLos Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles 1 Liberty Enlightening the World

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, one signature painting per decade

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's paintings: the gallery answers

Which Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer

Liberty Enlightening the World (1884), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles. La Californie de jadis (1873) and La Californie nouvelle (1873) come next.

How old was Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi on completing Liberty Enlightening the World?Reveal the answer

50 years old: Liberty Enlightening the World dates from 1884, and Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was born in 1834.

How many works did Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi create?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 4 works by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, dated from 1864 to 1884.

Where do Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer

Mostly in musée Bartholdi (Colmar) and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles). The museum table above lists them all.

When did Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi create the most famous paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1870s: 2 of the 4 works on this page were made then, La Californie de jadis among them.

Which are Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is Les gamins sont partout les mêmes (1864) and the latest Liberty Enlightening the World (1884).

Which subjects did Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi return to most?Reveal the answer

People (2) and Sky (2), across the 4 works on this page.

Which medium did Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi work in most?Reveal the answer

Oil On Canvas, for 2 of the 4 works on this page.

Which Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi originals does the musée Bartholdi hold?Reveal the answer

La Californie de jadis, La Californie nouvelle and Les gamins sont partout les mêmes: the musée Bartholdi, Colmar holds 3 of the works on this page.

Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi: the artist

early life and education

frédéric auguste bartholdi, a french sculptor and painter, was born on april 2, 1834, in colmar, france. his family, of alsatian protestant heritage, adopted the name barthold from his ancestors. frédéric's father, jean charles bartholdi, passed away when he was just two years old, prompting his mother to move with her children to paris.

artistic pursuits

in paris, frédéric auguste bartholdi took drawing lessons from martin rossbach and later studied sculpture under antoine étex. he also delved into architecture under the guidance of henri labrouste and eugène-emmanuel viollet-le-duc. this diverse educational background laid the foundation for his future artistic endeavors.

the iconic statue of liberty

frédéric's most renowned work, liberty enlightening the world, commonly known as the statue of liberty, is a testament to his genius. this colossal piece, symbolizing freedom and democracy, has become an iconic emblem of the united states.

other notable works and legacy

while frédéric auguste bartholdi's paintings are not as widely recognized as his sculptures, they demonstrate his versatility as an artist. some of his notable works can be found in various museums, including the musée des beaux-arts de carcassonne, which features a collection of western paintings from the 17th to the 20th century.
  • discover more about frédéric auguste bartholdi's works on OriginalUniqueArt: [https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@/frédéric_auguste_bartholdi](https://OriginalUniqueArt.com/@/frédéric_auguste_bartholdi)
  • explore the musée des beaux-arts de carcassonne's collection on OriginalUniqueArt: /en/art/show/art-d3apq7-en/
  • learn more about eugène-emmanuel viollet-le-duc, frédéric's architecture mentor, on wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/eug%c3%a8ne_viollet-le-duc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/eug%c3%a8ne_viollet-le-duc)

conclusion

frédéric auguste bartholdi's legacy extends far beyond his iconic statue of liberty. his contributions to the world of art and architecture continue to inspire new generations. as a prominent figure in french art, frédéric's work can be found in various museums and collections, including those featured on OriginalUniqueArt.

key dates:

  • april 2, 1834: born in colmar, france
  • 1852: received a baccalauréat from the école nationale supérieure des beaux-arts
  • 1904: passed away, leaving behind a legacy of artistic and architectural masterpieces
experience the genius of frédéric auguste bartholdi through his works on OriginalUniqueArt.