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The Golden Virgin

Albert, Italy

The Golden Virgin

The Golden Virgin, also known as The Leaning Virgin, is a gilded sculpture by the French artist Albert Roze originally completed in 1897 and installed on the rooftop of the Basilica of Our Lady of Brebières (French: Basilique Notre-Dame de Brebières) in Albert, France. Regarded as a symbol of French

resilience during World War I, the artwork portrays the Virgin Mary presenting Christ Child heavenward. In 1915, German shelling knocked over the statue, and it nearly toppled again due to shellfire during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. After falling in 1918 as a result of British bombardment, the statue went missing. Its destruction took on mythical proportions, with the anticipated toppling believed to influence the war's outcome. Eventually, the statue was recast and replaced in 1929.

Listen to the audio guide for The Golden Virgin Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off

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