Paris - The Flame of Liberty - 7me

Plate LXVII – The Flame of Liberty…

Walking near the Pont de l’Alma you cannot help noticing the three and a half metres high gilded copper monument - a full sized replica of the flame held aloft by Lady Liberty in New York harbour. 

A gift to the people of Paris from the International Herald Tribune Newspaper it was given in 1989 to mark the earlier (1987) centenary of this English language Parisian publication. It was also a token of appreciation for the work undertaken by the French in 1984 during the restoration of the famous American statue – itself originally a gift to the American people from the citizens of France. 

Events in Paris on the night of August 31st 1997 were to change the meaning of the flame for millions of people around the world. It was here in a tunnel of the bridge that Diana, Princess of Wales was involved in the car accident that was to claim her life. Within hours the Flame of Liberty was to be claimed by Diana-ites as her unofficial memorial, and to this day the grey and black marble base is used for the posting of messages of memorial to the late Princess. I was fortunate to capture it after one of its many and regular cleanings, for it is sadly also often covered with the work of graffiti ‘artists’.