Statue of Liberty, Lviv

The so-called “Statue of Liberty” in Lviv is one of the city’s most unexpected landmarks—an elegant seated figure perched atop the Museum of Ethnography and Crafts. Installed between 1891 and 1893, it was created by sculptor Leandro Marconi for the former Galicia Savings Bank, which originally occupied the building. Although locals affectionately call it the Statue of Liberty, its true purpose was quite different: the figure was designed as an allegory of Thrift, or Savings, reflecting the institution’s focus on financial stability and economic progress.

The sculpture’s symbolism blends classical motifs with late 19th-century civic ideals. The central figure holds a torch and a tablet, echoing the language of freedom and enlightenment associated with the famous monument in New York. Yet here, these elements highlight economic knowledge and responsibility rather than political liberty. At the base of the composition, two male figures represent agriculture and industry, the key sectors that fuelled Galicia’s development and the prosperity that the Savings Bank aimed to promote.

One of the work’s most distinctive features is its seated pose. Unlike most traditional allegorical sculptures, this figure does not stand tall but rests gracefully, a detail that produced ironic comments during the Soviet era—most famously the quip that “even Freedom is sitting in the USSR.” Despite these interpretations, the sculpture was always intended to symbolize practical virtues, not political statements.

Today, the figure remains an intriguing highlight on the museum’s roofline. Restored in 2016–2017, it continues to capture visitors’ attention with its blend of elegance, symbolism, and subtle humour woven into Lviv’s architectural landscape.