Spanish, Burgundy, Dijon, 15th century / 1443–45
Mourner from the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Mourner from the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria as sculpture (Spanish, Burgundy, Dijon, 15th century · 1443–45).
A plaster cast of this mourner adorns the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria in Dijon, France.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as salins alabaster and credits Jean de la Huerta (Spanish, active Burgundy, 1431–62).
The museum's collection notes: 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.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtMourner from the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of BavariaOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.