Mourner from the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria

1443–45

This object has related works. See

Jean de la Huerta

(Spanish, active Burgundy, 1431–62)

Culture

Spanish, Burgundy, Dijon, 15th century

Medium

salins alabaster

Measurements

Overall: 41 x 20.3 x 12.4 cm (16 1/8 x 8 x 4 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 1940.129

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Location

109 Gothic Painting and Sculpture

Did You Know?

A plaster cast of this mourner adorns the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria in Dijon, France.

Description

This monklike figure has a variously textured monochrome surface. Alabaster’s softness made it easy to carve details like the fabric and fur of the mourner’s robe and the codex pages in his hand. This is one of 40 mourners from an elaborate funeral procession beneath an intricately carved alabaster arcade.

This mourner comes from the monastery of Champmol near Dijon, which became a primary burial place for Burgundian dukes. The sculpture was part of the tomb of John the Fearless (1371–1419), commissioned by his son Philip the Good (1396–1467), modeled after the earlier monument for Philip the Bold.