The Golden Virgin
 The Golden Virgin Sculpture atop the Basilica
[N 1] | |
 | |
| 50°00′13″N 2°38′53″E / 50.003611°N 2.648056°E | |
| Location | 20 Rue Anicet Godin, 80300 Albert, France |
|---|---|
| Designer | Albert Roze |
| Material | Metal |
| Completion date | 1897 |
| Dedicated to | The Virgin Mary |
The Golden Virgin is a sculpture that rests atop of the Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières Catholic Church in Albert, France. The sculpture was designed by Albert Roze and it depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child skyward. The sculpture became a symbol of resilience and a great visual icon during World War I. The statue was damaged and leaning in 1915 and went missing when it finally fell in 1918.[1]
Materials
The Sculpture was covered with thousands of gold leaves. The Pope Leo XIII christened the church and called it “Lourdes of the North.” The sculpture was fastened to the the bell tower.[2] When the statue was leaning after 2000 shells hit the town and Basilica in 1915[2] French engineers fastened a chain to keep her from falling to open area below.[3] Other sources say it was either the British or the French who secured the statue with e thick cable.[1]
Background
In 1915 during The Battle of the Somme, World War I, the sculpture was shelled and leaning past 90 degrees. The sculpture was designed by Albert Roze and in 1897 it was placed atop the Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières. The sculpture depicts a golden colored Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ high above her head. Artillery shells destroyed much of the town of Albert, but the statue of Mary remained attached to the Basilica and badly tilted.[4]
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Superstitious soldiers studied the sculpture daily - wrote about her in their diaries and remarked that she was knocked over... threatening to fall over at any time. The messages about the statue were passed between troops, and it was often said that “When the Virgin falls, the war will end.”.[2][4]
The statue became a symbol to British and German troops as soldiers remarked that the Virgin Mary was keeping the baby Christ from falling.[5] By 1918 the German troops occupied the city of Albert, and the British shelled the Basilique to deprive the Germans of the high position, and the statue finally was toppled. The statue was never recovered.[6] Coincidentally, WWI ended November 11, 1918.[7]
Residents discussed placing the sculpture in her famous war-time pose. They eventually decided to place her in her original standing pose.[6] The sculpture of the Golden Virgin was recast 1929[2] and fitted atop the 76 meter bell tower during the reconstruction of the Basilica.[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b Aonghais, Clinton Mhic (2014). The Baker Boys. United States: Clinton Mhic Aonghais. p. 380. ISBN 978-1-4907-3909-0. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Daubs, Katie (October 15, 2018). "'When the Virgin falls, the war will end'". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ Middlebrook, Martin (April 1, 2018). The First Day on the Somme: 1 July 1916. London England: Penguin. ISBN 978-0141981604. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Walsh, Michael (September 30, 2011). Brothers in War. London, United Kingdom: Ebury Publishing. p. 177. ISBN 9781446446157. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ Neiberg, Michael S. (February 16, 2014). The Western Front 1914–1916. Oxford, UK: Amber Books. p. 39. ISBN 9781908273109. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ a b Holt, Tonie; Holt, Valmai (2016). Somme 100th Anniversary. Yorkshire, England: Pen & Sword Books. p. 368. ISBN 9781473866744. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ "Armistice Day: World War I ends". History. A&E Television Networks. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
- ^ David, Samantha (March 2, 2021). "€180million facelift for WW1 bombarded French basilica". English Language Media. Connexion. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
Notes
- ^ Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières with The Golden Virgin atop of the bell tower. The sculpture was created by Albert Roze and subsequently destroyed and lost during World War I.