Statue of Bernadette

In 1933, the municipality of Lourdes organised a public fundraising campaign and a competition to create a statue in honour of Bernadette. First prize was awarded to Suzanne and Jacques Hartmann, who designed a bronze sculpture of Bernadette as a child, which was unveiled on 8 July 1934. This monument, funded by the people of Lourdes, expressed their gratitude to Bernadette following her canonisation (on 8 December 1933). The statue caught the eye of the Bishop of Lourdes, who commissioned a new depiction of Bernadette from the couple in 1936. They created ‘Bernadette à l’agnelet’ (Bernadette and the lamb), a white Carrara marble sculpture that still stands today along the esplanade in the sanctuary.

In 1933, the town of Lourdes organised a public fundraising campaign and a competition to commission a statue in honour of Bernadette. Suzanne and Jacques Hartmann won first prize and created a bronze sculpture of Bernadette as a child, which was unveiled on 8 July 1934. This monument, funded by the people of Lourdes, symbolised their tribute to Bernadette on the occasion of her canonisation. This caught the attention of the Bishop of Lourdes, who, in 1936, commissioned the couple to create a new depiction of Bernadette. They then created a sculpture of Bernadette with a little lamb, a white Carrara marble sculpture that still stands today on the esplanade of the sanctuary.

In 1933, the town of Lourdes organised a public fundraising campaign and a competition to commission a statue in honour of Bernadette. First prize was awarded to Suzanne and Jacques Hartmann, who created the bronze sculpture of Bernadette as a child, which was unveiled on 8 July 1934. This monument, funded by the people of Lourdes, symbolises their gratitude towards Bernadette on the occasion of her canonisation. The Bishop of Lourdes was so impressed that in 1936 he commissioned the couple to create a new depiction of Bernadette. They therefore created ‘Bernadette with the Lamb’, a sculpture in white Carrara marble which still stands today in the square in front of the sanctuary.

In 1933, the town of Lourdes organised a fundraising campaign and a competition to commission a statue in honour of Bernadette. First prize in the competition went to Suzanne and Jacques Hartmann, who had created a bronze sculpture of Bernadette as a child. The statue was unveiled on 8 July 1934. This project, funded by the residents of Lourdes, is a token of their grateful recognition of Bernadette on the occasion of her canonisation. In 1936, the Bishop of Lourdes commissioned the artist couple to create a further depiction of Bernadette. They subsequently created the figure of Bernadette with the Lamb, a sculpture in white Carrara marble, which was erected on the esplanade within the pilgrimage site.

In 1933, the town of Lourdes organised a public competition to create a statue in honour of Bernadette. First prize was awarded to Suzanne and Jacques Hartmann, who created a bronze statue of Bernadette as a child, which was unveiled on 8 July 1934. This monument, funded by the people of Lourdes, symbolises their gratitude towards Bernadette on the occasion of her canonisation. The Bishop of Lourdes also took note of this and, in 1936, commissioned the couple to create a new statue of Bernadette. They subsequently created *Bernadette à l’agnelet*, a statue in white Carrara marble, which still stands along the esplanade at the sanctuary.

In 1933, the town of Lourdes organised a public fundraising campaign and a competition for a statue in honour of Bernadette. Suzanne and Jacques Hartmann won the first prize and created a bronze sculpture depicting Bernadette as a child, which was unveiled on 8 July 1934. The monument, funded by the people of Lourdes, symbolises their gratitude to Bernadette on the occasion of her canonisation. The Bishop of Lourdes was so impressed by the sculpture that he commissioned the sculptors to create a new statue of Bernadette in 1936. The artists carved Bernadette in the form of an angel from white Carrara marble. The statue still stands on the esplanade within the sanctuary grounds.