Mastodawn

Quote of the day, 17 March: The Virgin of the Smile

Did you know?

The statue known as the Virgin of the Smile is a copy of a gilded silver statue created for the church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris by Edmé Bouchardon, sculptor to the king, in 1734. The original statue had been fashioned from pieces of silverware donated by parishioners and was affectionately nicknamed “Our Lady of the Old Silverware.”

In 1735 the statue was reproduced in a painting on canvas by the artist Chevallier, and later in an engraving by the engraver Dominique Sornique in 1744.

After Bouchardon’s statue disappeared during the French Revolution, it was replaced in 1832 by a new silver statue made by the goldsmith Choiselat, modeled after the engraving.

The Virgin of the Smile that belonged to the Martin family is a cast made from this statue, with several additions, including the globe and the serpent.

The statue was given to Louis Martin by Mademoiselle Félicité Baudouin, a young woman of Alençon, when he established himself there as a watchmaker. It was placed along the central walkway of the Pavilion, Louis Martin’s place of meditation and leisure.

After his marriage to Zélie, the statue occupied a place at the very heart of the home, and the family prayed daily at its feet. During the month of May—the month dedicated to Mary—the statue received special honors and was placed at the center of a small oratory arranged in Marie’s bedroom. Zélie held this statue in particular devotion, for through its intercession she believed she had received many graces.

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Lisieux

Explanation by the Carmelite nuns of Lisieux, Facebook post, 13 May 2020.

Our Lady of Old Silverware | JFBRUNEAU / Adobe Stock

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: Les Buissonnets – Virgin of the Smile, Lisieux, France. Image credit: Jim, the Photographer / Flickr (Some rights reserved)

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