“Liberty in Distress”

by Frederick A. MacMonnies.
The City commissioned this work from MacMonnies at a cost of $19,000. It was installed in June 1929 on an octagonal pedestal of green Vermont marble, which cost $3,200. Some controversy ensued after the statue was commissioned and purchased when, in 1934, the City discovered that MacMonnies had created a similar statue for the French government (“France Aroused”). Atlantic City had paid for what it supposed was an exclusive design. The French statue was larger and was installed for the 20th anniversary of the first battle of the Marne and is located at Varredes, France.
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