Urban legend, or is it true?! The fresco on the ceiling above the entrance to the New York Café, which (also) depicts the Statue of Liberty, is said to have been painted in the café before the actual statue was erected… But what is the truth? The New York Café opened its doors in 1894 and, with its air of sophistication and magnificent design reminiscent of the finest Western standards, welcomed both wealthy, well-to-do aristocrats and Hungary’s most famous writers and poets.
The New York Café and the Legend of the Statue of Liberty
At that time, the 19th-century French Republic seemed to many to be on the brink of collapse. Consequently, as an expression of this ideal – and, incidentally, as a political strategy – the country decided to present a gift to America across the Atlantic. This monumental masterpiece was created to mark the 100th anniversary of American independence. Bearing in mind its significance, the politician and historian Édouard René Lefebvre de Laboulaye took part in numerous debates, during which efforts were made to propose a suitable gift. Eventually, the French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a statue for 1876. The first small-scale model was erected in Paris, in what is now the Jardin du Luxembourg, in 1870. The two countries agreed that the French would build the statue, whilst the Americans would construct the pedestal.
To raise the necessary funds, various taxes were levied in France. Furthermore, events and a lottery were organised to speed up the collection of 2,250,000 francs. In America, the necessary funds were raised through charity events and boxing matches. The pedestal was finally completed on 22 April 1886. The statue had already been completed in France in July 1884. It consists of 350 pieces, which were transported to New York in 214 packages on 17 June 1885 aboard the frigate Isère. The statue was unveiled by Grover Cleveland on 28 October 1886 in front of the city’s residents.
The opening of the New York Café
After all this, only one question remains – which came first? The New York Café opened its doors in 1894, almost 10 years after the Statue of Liberty was erected.The legend has therefore been disproved – the Statue of Liberty appeared in New York before the Café did – but the fresco and the unrivalled surroundings continue to enchant all our dear guests to this day!
