An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Mourner from the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria1443–45
Jean de la Huerta
This monk-like 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.<br><br>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.
A plaster cast of this mourner adorns the Tomb of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria in Dijon, France.
salins alabaster
Overall: 41 x 20.3 x 12.4 cm (16 1/8 x 8 x 4 7/8 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
In a serene chapel nestled near Dijon, whispers of history echo through the cool air, where alabaster glimmers softly, bathed in gentle light. Among the delicate sculptures that adorn this sacred space stands a figure, embodying the essence of quiet mourning. With a surface that invites touch, the figure invites you to trace the mesmerizing textures that tell a story of loss and remembrance. The filmy robe, woven with intricacies of fabric and fur, flows around him, each fold a testament to the craftsmanship that birthed him.
Clutched in the figure's hands is a codex, its pages holding secrets of the past, memories folding into one another like gentle waves. This mourner is not alone; he forms part of a greater ensemble—one of forty solemn figures that accompany a grand procession, all their eyes turned toward a shared grief beneath an exquisitely carved alabaster arcade.
These mourners hail from the monastery of Champmol, a solemn final resting place for the famed Burgundian dukes. Built in tribute to John the Fearless, a ruler who walked the earth from 1371 to 1419, this sculpted portrayal was commissioned by his devoted son, Philip the Good, who yearned to honor his father’s storied legacy. Their artistry was inspired by an earlier monument dedicated to Philip the Bold, echoing through time—the continuity of love, loss, and remembrance.
Here, beneath the archways that shelter these figures, the air seems to hold its breath, inviting all who enter to pause, reflect, and connect to a tapestry woven with threads of history and emotion.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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