Editing Manneken Pis (section)

==History==

===Origins of ''Manneken Pis''===
[[File:Ommegang 1615 (detail).jpg|thumb|Detail from ''The Ommegang in Brussels on 31 May 1615'' ([[Denis van Alsloot|Denis Van Alsloot]], 1616). ''Manneken Pis'' (middle right) is dressed for the occasion.]]

The earliest mention of the existence of ''Manneken Pis'' dates from the mid-15th century,{{sfn|Mardaga|1989|p=263}}{{sfn|Deligne|2008|p=77–96}} and can be found in an administrative document from 1451–52 about the water lines supplying the fountains of Brussels.{{efn|name=fn2|The text mentions {{lang|odt|daer dmenneken pist}} in [[Old Dutch]], meaning "where the little boy pees".{{sfn|Deligne|2008|p=77–96}}}} From the beginning, the fountain played an essential role in the distribution of [[drinking water]]. It stood on a column and poured water into a double rectangular basin of stone. The only representations of this first statue can be found, very schematically, on a map by the [[Cartography|cartographer]]s [[Georg Braun]] and [[Frans Hogenberg]], in which the fountain appeared to be installed directly on the street and not on a corner as it is today. ''Manneken Pis'' is depicted again in a painting from 1616 by the [[court painter]]s [[Denis van Alsloot|Denis Van Alsloot]] and [[Antoon Sallaert]] representing [[Ommegang of Brussels|Brussels' Ommegang]] of 1615, as well as in a preparatory drawing to this painting, in which it is dressed as a shepherd.{{sfn|Vautier|Houbrechts|Van Sprang|2012|p=129–142}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=96}}

The first statue was replaced with a new [[bronze]] version, commissioned in 1619 by the [[Brussels Town Hall|Brussels City Council]].{{sfn|Mardaga|1989|p=263}}{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=20}} This {{convert|55.5|cm|in|-tall|adj=mid}}<ref name=":4" />{{efn|name=fn1}} bronze statue, on the corner of the {{lang|fr|Rue de l'Étuve|italic=no}}/{{lang|nl|Stoofstraat|italic=no}} and the {{lang|fr|Rue des Grands Carmes|italic=no}}/{{lang|nl|Lievevrouwbroerstraat|italic=no}}, was conceived by the [[Duchy of Brabant|Brabantine]] sculptor [[:fr:Jérôme Duquesnoy l'Ancien|Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder]],{{sfn|Miller|1998}}{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=20}}{{sfn|De Vries|2003|p=51–54}} father of the architect and sculptor [[Jerôme Duquesnoy (II)|Jérôme Duquesnoy the Younger]] and the famous sculptor [[François Duquesnoy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=RKD Research |url=https://research.rkd.nl/nl/detail/https://data.rkd.nl/artists/124425 |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=research.rkd.nl}}</ref> It was probably cast and installed in 1620.{{efn|name=fn3|As seen on the current base of the original statue kept at the Brussels City Museum.}} During that time, the column supporting the statue and the double rectangular basin collecting water were completely remodelled by the stone cutter Daniel Raessens.{{sfn|Mardaga|1989|p=263}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=96, 126}}

===17th–19th centuries===
[[File:Gravure Manneken-Pis.jpg|thumb|left|upright|''View of the Fountain of Manneken Pis'', etching by [[Jacobus Harrewijn]] from ''Les délices des Pays-Bas'', 1697]]
[[File:Mannekin Pis (8293232485).jpg|thumb|upright|''Manneken Pis'' in its [[rocaille]]-style niche, fitted in 1770, appears to be smaller than in its original setting.]]

During its history, ''Manneken Pis'' faced many hazards. It survived undamaged the [[Bombardment of Brussels (1695)|bombardment of Brussels]] of 1695 by the French army, but the pipes having been affected, it could not deliver its water for some time. A [[pamphlet]] published the same year recounts this episode. This text is the oldest attesting that ''Manneken Pis'' had become "an object of glory appreciated by all and renowned throughout the world".{{sfn|Culot|Hennaut|Demanet|Mierop|1992|p=77–79}} It is also the first time that it served as a symbol for the people of Brussels. It is also traditionally said that after the bombardment, it was triumphantly placed again on its pedestal. On that occasion, the following passage from the [[Bible]] was inscribed above its head: {{lang|la|In petra exaltavit me, et nunc exaltavi caput meum super inimicos meos}} ("The Lord placed me on a stone base, and now I raise my head above my enemies").{{sfn|Des Marez|1918|p=143}}{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=23}}

As shown by an engraving by [[Jacobus Harrewijn]], dating from 1697,<ref>''Les délices des Pays-Bas'', Brussels, 1697. Visible in the Brussels City Museum.</ref> the fountain was no longer located on the street, but in a recess at the corner of the {{lang|fr|Rue du Chêne|italic=no}}/{{lang|nl|Eikstraat|italic=no}} and the {{lang|fr|Rue de l'Étuve|italic=no}}/{{lang|nl|Stoofstraat|italic=no}} and was protected by a gate.{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=96–97}} In 1770, the column and the double rectangular basin disappeared; the statue was integrated into a new decor, in the form of a [[Petit Granit|blue stone]] niche in [[rocaille]] style, originating from another dismantled fountain of Brussels.{{sfn|Des Marez|1918|p=144}}{{sfn|Mardaga|1989|p=263}}{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=22}} The water simply flowed through a grating in the ground, which was replaced with a basin in the 19th century. In its new setting, ''Manneken Pis'' gives the impression of being smaller than in its original layout.{{sfn|Des Marez|1918|p=143}}

The whole structure is protected by [[wrought iron]] railings,{{sfn|Mardaga|1989|p=263}}{{sfn|Heymans|2003}} the last version of which dates from 1851.{{sfn|Heymans|2003}} The latter prevented access to water, relegating the fountain to a decorative and symbolic role. It is also the case, around the same time, of the other fountains in Brussels. This correlates with efforts by the [[City of Brussels]], starting in 1855, to allow for the distribution of [[water supply|drinking water]] in homes.{{sfn|Deligne|2005}}

The figure has repeatedly been the object of theft or attempted theft. Legend has it that the statue was removed in 1745 by English soldiers and found in the Flemish town of [[Geraardsbergen]] ({{langx|fr|Grammont|link=no}}).{{sfn|Des Marez|1918|p=143}}{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=22}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=98}} As a sign of their appreciation, the people of Brussels gave this city a replica of the statue.{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=22}} A second attempted theft was allegedly made in 1747 by a group of French [[grenadier]]s stationed in Brussels.{{sfn|Heymans|2003|p=12}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=98}} The population rebelled against this deed and threatened a bloody revenge. To calm things down, the [[List of French monarchs|King of France]], [[Louis XV]], offered a gentleman's gown of [[brocade]], embroidered with gold, to ''Manneken Pis''. He also authorised the statue to carry the sword, and decorated it with the [[Order of Saint Louis|Cross of St. Louis]].{{sfn|Mardaga|1989|p=263}}{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=20–22}}{{sfn|De Vries|2003|p=51–54}}

The statue was stolen in 1817 by the freed convict Antoine Licas or Lycas. The perpetrator was heavily punished; he was condemned to forced labour for life, and was first tied for an hour to [[stocks]] on the [[Grand-Place|Grand-Place/Grote Markt]].{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=22}}{{sfn|De Vries|2003|p=51–54}} The original statue was broken into eleven pieces during this abduction and was restored by a specialised [[welder]], under the supervision of sculptor [[Gilles-Lambert Godecharle]].{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=98–99}} The pieces were matched and used to make a mould in which the bronze statue was poured.{{sfn|Mardaga|1989|p=263}}{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=22}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=98–99}} The statue was then screwed onto a new [[copper]] base marked "1620 – REST 1817".{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=99–100}}

===20th century–present===
[[File:Manneken Pis Original.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The original ''Manneken Pis'' statue from 1619 is kept at the [[Brussels City Museum]].]]
[[File:Bruselas, Manneken Pis 3.jpg|thumb|The surroundings of ''Manneken Pis'' give an idea of its size.]]

''Manneken Pis'' experienced similar misadventures in the 20th century. Two attempted thefts occurred in 1955 and 1957.{{sfn|Heymans|2003|p=13}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=99}} Some accounts say that it has been stolen up to seven times. Notably, in January 1963, students of the [[Antwerp]] student's association "De Wikings" of the Sint-Ignatius Handelshogeschool (Higher Business Education), now part of the [[University of Antwerp]], "hijacked" the statue for five days before handing it over to the Antwerp authorities. The local and international press covered the story, contributing to the students' collection of funds donated to two orphanages. The case did go further, however, and the base was replaced identically by the [[La Fonderie, Brussels Museum of Industry and Labour|''Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles'']], to which the statue was anchored by a reinforced bronze attachment.{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=99–100}}<ref>{{Cite journal|year=1963|title=Bulletin communal : Compte rendu de la séance du 7 janv. 1963|url=https://archief.brussel.be/Colossus/BulletinsCommunaux/Bulletins/Documents/Bxl_1963_Tome_I_Part_2.pdf|journal=Publication périodique: Ville de Bruxelles|publisher=Imprimerie Schaumans|volume=1|pages=93–98}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|year=1963|title=Bulletin communal : Compte rendu de la séance du 21 janv. 1963 (part 2)|url=https://archief.brussel.be/Colossus/BulletinsCommunaux/Bulletins/Documents/Bxl_1963_Tome_I_Part_2.pdf|journal=Publication périodique: Ville de Bruxelles|publisher=Imprimerie Schaumans|volume=1|pages=99–110}}</ref>

Things were more serious when it disappeared in 1965; the statue had been broken by the thief and only the feet and ankles remained.{{sfn|Heymans|2003|p=13}}{{sfn|Couvreur|Deknop|Symons|2005|p=40}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=100}} In June 1966, the Antwerp magazine ''De Post'' received an anonymous phone call, signalling that the "body" was in the [[Brussels–Charleroi Canal|Charleroi Canal]]. It was found there by divers, sent by the magazine, and was brought back to Brussels on 27 June.<ref>''Le Soir'', 29 June 1966</ref> Restored once again, the statue was sheltered and the original version is now kept and displayed on the second floor of the Brussels City Museum, at the [[Brussels City Museum|King's House]], on the Grand-Place.{{sfn|De Roose|1999|p=20}}{{sfn|Couvreur|Deknop|Symons|2005|p=26}}{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=101}} In the meantime, a replica of the statue had already been commissioned by Brussels' authorities and cast by the ''Compagnie des Bronzes''.{{sfn|Patigny|2019|p=100}} The new statue was thus installed in place of the old one and this version still adorns the niche on the Rue du Chêne to this day.

In late 2018, city technician Régis Callens discovered that the basin of the statue had developed a leak, leading to a reported {{convert|1000|–|1500|L}} of water being used per day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhnet.be/regions/bruxelles/pendant-des-annees-manneken-pis-a-urine-des-milliers-de-litres-d-eau-potable-5c952504d8ad5874770407a2|title=Pendant des années, Manneken-Pis a uriné des milliers de litres d'eau potable|last=DH.be|website=www.dhnet.be|date=22 March 2019|language=fr|access-date=2019-03-27}}</ref> The leak occurred for an unknown number of years, unnoticed among the several hundred water features in the City of Brussels and was only later discovered with the help of Shayp water monitoring technology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lecho.be/dossier/start-ups/la-start-up-bruxelloise-shayp-fait-la-chasse-aux-fuites-d-eau/10067005.html|title=La start-up bruxelloise Shayp fait la chasse aux fuites d'eau|date=2018-11-08|website=L'Echo|language=fr|access-date=2019-09-30}}</ref> The statue received a temporary fix in March 2019, with a permanent recirculating system set to be installed. The solution was announced during Brussels Water Week where city officials cited the situation as motivation to check for similar problems in other fountains.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Alan|last=Hope|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/54821/manneken-pis-will-no-longer-waste-drinking-water|title=Manneken Pis will no longer waste drinking water|date=24 March 2019|work=The Brussels Times|access-date=11 April 2023|language=en-gb}}</ref>