Famous Artworks – Mannekin Pis

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Hi everyone, it’s Robbie Cheadle here with you today with the February post in the Famous Artworks series on LatinosUSA – English Edition.

If you have a favourite Famous Artwork you’d like to share, please email me at cheadlerobbie@gmail.com. Your email should be titled Famous Artworks. You need to include a free use picture of the artwork or your own photograph and a short writeup about the picture.

Mannekin Pis new bronze version designed by Jerome Duquesnoy the Elder

Mannekin Pis, meaning Little Pissing Man, is a landmark bronze fountain sculpture in central Brussels, Belgium. The sculpture features a nude boy urinating into the fountain’s basin. While the earliest mentions of the existence of this famous statue are from the mid-15th century, the new bronze version was designed by Jerome Duquesnoy the elder and put in place in 1619. Due to repeated thefts and damage, the original is now stored in the Brussels City Museum.

Mannekin Pis is one of the best-known symbols of Brussels and Belgium.

During my short trip to Brussels in July 2025, we saw Mannekin Pis twice and also saw a lot of tourist merchandise featuring this famous landmark.

Picture captions: Mannekin Pis fountain in Brussels. Photographs by Robbie Cheadle.

This is my YouTube video of Mannekin Pis:

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Social Media Links

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robbie-Cheadle/author/B01N9J62GQ
Unsplash profile: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle

35 respuestas a «Famous Artworks – Mannekin Pis»

  1. Avatar de lyndhurstlaura

    I’ve seen this too. ‘Interesting’, best describes it for me! 😂

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Yes, it is very interesting 😊

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  2. Avatar de Colleen Chesebro

    To see these works of art would be amazing. What fun, Robbie!!

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      I enjoyed it. I took a photo where the mannekin appeared to be peeing on TCs head but I am forbidden from sharing it 😂🤣

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  3. Avatar de Cindy Georgakas

    lovely photos, Robbie. Thanks for sharing this are from Brussels’. I always love the cherub boys or girls for that matter.. xx

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Cindy, I like the cheers too although this takes lewdness a little further 😂

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      1. Avatar de Cindy Georgakas

        😂😂😂

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  4. Avatar de tidalscribe.com

    I have an inch high brass version, I’m sure many people have. I remember my mother telling me about it, even though she had never been to Belgium. Legend has it that a young prince was lost in the forest, a search party was sent out and that’s what he was doing when they found him. Thank goodness it wasn’t a princess!

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Haha, Janet. I take it you have not seen Jeanneke Pis also in Brussels.

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      1. Avatar de tidalscribe.com

        No, alas I have never been to Brussels. I had not heard of that statue, but I have seen it now courtesy of Wikipedia!

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  5. Avatar de writerravenclaw

    😀

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      🥰

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  6. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

    I’m not a big fan of the peeing lad, but it’s not as bad as the painting of the Virgin Mary shooting breastmilk into St. Jerome’s mouth.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Oh my, Liz, that would be a bit blasphemous for me. I was taught by nuns and it shaped my thoughts on some things for life.

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      1. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

        St. Bernard was a Catholic saint, and there is plenty of iconography depicting the breast milk shooting story (which I gather is a legend and didn’t really happen). I was shocked when I saw the painting.

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  7. Avatar de thomasstigwikman

    It is incredible that some people has to steal and vandalize. It is sad that the Mannekin Pis original has to be stored in a museum, but I understand it. It is better for it to be protected. Nice photos and video.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Thomas, I think a museum is the right place for such valuable treasures away from people with bad agendas. A replica serves the public purpose well enough.

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      1. Avatar de thomasstigwikman

        Yes you are right. That makes sense to me.

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  8. Avatar de CarolCooks2

    An interesting post not my most favourite but agree it a shame that it has to be protected in a museum from vandalism. My favourite medium is water colour and I love the work of Dürer and Turner although if I was hanging art in my home I would go for a Monet if I couldn’t get a Banksy x

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Carol, I think this statue is a hoot. I was surprised at how small it is. I like Monet too. And Peter Paul Reuben.

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      1. Avatar de CarolCooks2

        It is small and gives rise to much mirth…Reuben was a very sensual artist and I do admire his work his brush strokes are very very good…I can just imagine him prancing and being very mobile as he paints arms waving…x

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      2. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        Reuben was lucky. He got to paint full time 😄

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      3. Avatar de CarolCooks2

        I didn’t know that although I suppose if I gave it some thought the Sistine chapel ceiling was a full time job alone x

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      4. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        Yes 💓

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  9. Avatar de Miriam Hurdle

    I remember the image but couldn’t remember where it was. Thank you for this post, Robbie! Great photo and video.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      I’m pleased you enjoyed this post, Miriam

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  10. Avatar de merrildsmith

    It’s great to see «famous art,» but this certainly is not my favorite. 😊

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      The Europeans have always been a bit lewd with their art. I think it’s amusing.

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      1. Avatar de merrildsmith

        I’m not prudish, and «European» art seems broad. I’m just not that interested in little boys peeing. 😊 But I understand it’s a famous statue.

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  11. Avatar de T. W. Dittmer

    Very interesting, Robbie. I see why Mannekin Pis is so well known.

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    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Yes, it has been stolen and partially destroyed many times. A most intriguing history.

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      1. Avatar de T. W. Dittmer

        Yes!

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  12. Avatar de Violet Lentz

    My great-aunt had one of these behind the bar in her basement. Needless to say, it was a favorite amongst the children every time we gathered at her home. hehehehe

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  13. Avatar de Chris Hall

    Tee-hee – I have been to Brussels and saw that statue!

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