Manneken Pis at the D Las Vegas – a fountain replica of Belgium’s famous naked troublemaker – has officially covered up his face with a mask.
Donning a branded mask with the D’s logo on it, the 500-pound icon with a penchant for exposing himself has joined the “Mask Up for Nevada” movement to help protect Las Vegas residents and visitors against the spread of COVID-19.
A large-scale bronze replica of the beloved 17th century statue in Brussels, Belgium, Manneken Pis (Belgian for “Little Man Pee") is a little boy who cheerfully “relieves himself” into a fountain’s basin. The piece holds a special place in the lives of the D’s owners, brothers Derek and Greg Stevens, who are of Belgian descent and visited the statue in Brussels often throughout their childhood and early adulthood.
A lifelong fan of the cheeky work-of-art, Stevens brought a replica of the statue to welcome guests at the D in 2015.
Starting as a central water source in Belgium, Manneken Pis has played an important role in the history of the country. Created by Hiëroynmus Duquesnoy the Elder and put on display in 1619, Manneken Pis was a survivor of the bombardment of Brussels in 1695 and grew into one of the most widely visited and photographed statues in Belgium. While smiling coyly, Manneken Pis remains the emblem of the rebellious spirit of Brussels.
The statue been described as hard-working yet fun, loving, affable and slightly irreverent – all qualities embraced by the D.
Even though he’d prefer to go “au naturale,” Manneken Pis boasts an elaborate wardrobe of seasonal suits and costumes, with the mask being the latest addition to his repertoire.
