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The Infant Jesus of Mechlin press release
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Restaurations
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…Restore his original glory—support the restoration of the Infant Jesus of Mechlin |
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This plump and smiling Christ Child was sculpted in Mechlin around the year 1500 and subsequently polychromed in Brussels. Mechlin, Brussels and Antwerp were among the major centres of art in the former Southern Netherlands, and were known in particular for their production of high-quality wood statuettes, which flourished at the end of the Middle Ages.
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The Infant Jesus statuettes were designed to be seen from all sides and were generally intended for the devotional practices of nuns, who could look after the statuettes as they would an actual child, with maternal care, dressing them, putting them to bed, talking to them and embracing them.
The style of this Infant Jesus is so typical that its Mechlin origin is instantly recognizable. It is one of the rare statuettes of its kind that still survives while several hundred Virgin Mary, Virgin with Child, and male and female saint statuettes produced by the Mechlin workshops still exist, only a dozen Infant Jesus statuettes sculpted around the year 1500 remain today.
In September 2009, the Louvre was the very first French museum to acquire an Infant Jesus statuette.
The original polychromy of the skin, delicate and finely cracked, is currently hidden beneath three layers of paint. The original gilding of the hair is covered in places with two layers of brownish-red and pale yellow paint. The purpose of the extremely delicate restoration project that is envisaged (working on a scale of one-tenth of a millimetre) is to reveal the original polychromy, which will accentuate the body’s dimples and restore the original contours of the eyes and mouth as well as the satin-like finish of the skin.
Please make a donation today to help restore this major work which exemplifies the devotional practices of the Middle Ages in Europe.
The appeal target is to raise € 10,000 by the beginning of year 2010.
All online donations made between 21 November and 15 January will be allocated to the restoration of the Infant Jesus of Mechlin.
I would like to support the restoration of the Infant Jesus, with an immediate online donation
What tax deductions am I entitled to when I make a donation to the Louvre?
All donations to the Louvre are subject to an income tax deduction of 66% of the value of the donation.
If you donate € 100, you are entitled to a tax deduction of € 66 (applicable only to persons subject to income tax in France).
Donor Acknowledgment
The names of all donors who support the restoration project will be included on the sponsor acknowledgments page of the Louvre’s website at www.louvre.fr
Individuals who make a donation of at least € 100 will be invited, along with one guest, to attend a private viewing of the Louvre’s next major exhibition, Holy Russia (5 March to 24 May 2010), which traces more than seven centuries of sacred art.
The Louvre would like to thank everyone who helps support this restoration campaign!
Contact: enfantmalines@louvre.fr
For more information on the statuette and its restoration, click the link opposite , “Infant Jesus of Mechlin”.
For more information on practical ways to make a donation, click the following link: “Frequently Asked Questions”.
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