Manneken Pis
Brass sculpture and fountain in Brussels, Belgium / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Manneken Pis (Dutch for 'Little Pissing Man'; Dutch: [ˌmɑnəkə(m) ˈpɪs] ⓘ) is a landmark[1] 55.5 cm (21.9 in)[lower-alpha 1] bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium, depicting a puer mingens; a naked little boy urinating into the fountain's basin. Though its existence is attested as early as the mid-15th century,[2] Manneken Pis was redesigned by the Brabantine sculptor Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1619.[3][4][5] Its stone niche in rocaille style dates from 1770.[6][4] The statue has been repeatedly stolen or damaged throughout its history. Since 1965, a replica has been displayed,[7] with the original stored in the Brussels City Museum.[4][8]
Manneken Pis | |
---|---|
Artist | Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder |
Year |
|
Type | Bronze |
Subject | Puer mingens |
Dimensions | 55.5 cm (21.9 in) |
Location | City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium |
Coordinates | 50°50′42″N 4°21′00″E |
Website | Official website |
Manneken Pis is one of the best-known symbols of Brussels and Belgium, inspiring several legends, as well as numerous imitations and similar statues both nationally and abroad.[9][10] The figure is regularly dressed up and its wardrobe consists of around one thousand different costumes. Since 2017, they have been exhibited in a dedicated museum called Garderobe MannekenPis.[11][12] Owing to its self-derisive nature, Manneken Pis is also an example of belgitude (French; lit. 'Belgianness'),[13] as well as of folk humour (zwanze) popular in Brussels.[14][15]
Manneken Pis is approximately five minutes' walk from the Grand-Place/Grote Markt (Brussels' main square), at the junction of the Rue du Chêne/Eikstraat and the pedestrian Rue de l'Étuve/Stoofstraat.[5] This site is served by the premetro (underground tram) station Bourse/Beurs (on lines 3 and 4), as well as the bus stop Grand-Place/Grote Markt (on lines 33, 48 and 95).[16][17][18]