The architecture of miracle-working statues in the Southern Netherlands

In the 17th century, the Southern Netherlands saw the erection or restoration of numerous sanctuaries dedicated to the Virgin Mary. In many cases, they housed a miracle-working statue. This essay analyzes the architecture of these sanctuaries through the histories that were written about their statues. It examines how the history of the statues, as recorded in contemporary textual and visual sources, represents and interprets their material surroundings, including the architecture, in order to understand how the statues were thought to relate to these surroundings. Three types of historical narratives are distinguished, each explaining the presence and actions of a statue on its site. These three types will, in turn, shed light on the characteristics and development of the material surroundings of the miracle-working statues

Human papillomavirus prevalence, viral load and pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix in women initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy in South Africa: a cross-sectional study

Background Cervical cancer and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are both important public health problems in South Africa (SA). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs), high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), HPV viral load and HPV genotypes in HIV positive women initiating anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted at an anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment clinic in Cape Town, SA in 2007. Cervical specimens were taken for cytological analysis and HPV testing. The Digene Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) test was used to detect HR-HPV. Relative light units (RLU) were used as a measure of HPV viral load. HPV types were determined using the Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping test. Crude associations with abnormal cytology were tested and multiple logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for abnormal cytology. Results The median age of the 109 participants was 31 years, the median CD4 count was 125/mm3, 66.3% had an abnormal Pap smear, the HR-HPV prevalence was 78.9% (Digene), the median HPV viral load was 181.1 RLU (HC2 positive samples only) and 78.4% had multiple genotypes. Among women with abnormal smears the most prevalent HR-HPV types were HPV types 16, 58 and 51, all with a prevalence of 28.5%. On univariate analysis HR-HPV, multiple HPV types and HPV viral load were significantly associated with the presence of low and high-grade SILs (LSIL/HSIL). The multivariate logistic regression showed that HPV viral load was associated with an increased odds of LSIL/HSIL, odds ratio of 10.7 (95% CI 2.0 – 57.7) for those that were HC2 positive and had a viral load of ≤ 181.1 RLU (the median HPV viral load), and 33.8 (95% CI 6.4 – 178.9) for those that were HC2 positive with a HPV viral load > 181.1 RLU. Conclusion Women initiating ARVs have a high prevalence of abnormal Pap smears and HR-HPV. Our results underscore the need for locally relevant, rigorous screening protocols for the increasing numbers of women accessing ARV therapy so that the benefits of ARVs are not partially offset by an excess risk in cervical cancer

Nikodim Pavlovitch Kondakov, Iconographie de la Mère de Dieu. Vol.III. Introduction et édition d’Ivan Folletti, avec la collaboration de Damien Cerutti (Pubblicazioni del Centro Aletti). Roma, Lipa Edizioni, 2011. 27,5 x 20 cm, 608 p., 267 ill. nb. ISBN 978-88-89667-36-1.

Compte-rendu de l'édition critique du troisième volume de l'"Iconographie de la Mère de Dieu" de l'historien de l'art russe Nikodim Pavlovitch Kondakov (1844-1925), introduite et éditée par Ivan Folletti, avec la collaboration de Damien Cerutti

Olivier Christin, Fabrice Flückiger et Naïma Ghermani (dir.). Marie mondialisée. L’Atlas Marianus de Wilhelm Gumppenberg et les topographies sacrées de l’époque moderne. Neuchâtel, Éditions Alphil – Presses universitaires suisses, 2014.

Compte-rendu de l'ouvrage collectif, dirigé par Olivier Christin, Fabrice Flückiger et Naïma Ghermani, et consacré à l'"Atlas Marianus", publié par le jésuite allemand Wilhelm Gumppenberg dans la seconde moitié du XVIIe siècle

‘Cette vénérable et charmante petite statue’. Les statues miraculeuses de la Vierge dans les anciens Pays-Bas

Au XVIIe siècle, dans les Pays-Bas méridionaux, des sanctuaires mariaux se multiplient et se développent autour de statues de la Vierge, de petites dimensions et d’apparence simple mais qui, d’après les récits de miracles, seraient capables de grands prodiges. Les jeux d’échelle entre l’insignifiante image et son puissant prototype sont particulièrement exploités dans les textes et les images de dévotion qui présentent la statue de Notre-Dame de Duffel. La croissance de la dévotion envers cette statuette de douze centimètres entraîne un développement de son environnement matériel ; robe, niche, autel, ex-voto et architecture modifient alors la perception de l’humble image, à la fois dissimulée et magnifiée dans ce cadre d’exposition.In the 17th century, Marian sanctuaries spread in the Southern Netherlands. They develop around statues of the Virgin, small in size and simple in appearance yet, capable of great wonders, according to miracles tales. The play of scales between the insignificant image and its powerful prototype are particularly exploited throughout texts and devotional images related to Our Lady of Duffel statue. The devotion growth towards this twelve centimeters high statuette leads to a development of its material environment; elements such as the dress, the niche, the altar, ex-votos and the architecture modify the way the humble statue is perceived, both concealed and glorified in this frame of exhibition