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Collection record · Objects & craft

Mourner from the Tomb of Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (1364–1404)

The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated 1404–10. Recorded culture or place: Netherlands, active Dijon, 15th century.

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OBJECT RECORD

A closer look at the details.

Museum title
Mourner from the Tomb of Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (1364–1404)
Date
1404–10
Culture / origin
Netherlands, active Dijon, 15th century
Materials and technique
vizille alabaster
Dimensions
Overall: 41.1 x 17.6 x 11 cm (16 3/16 x 6 15/16 x 4 5/16 in.)
Artist / maker
Claus de Werve (Netherlandish, 1380–1439)
Museum
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Accession number
1958.67

FROM THE MUSEUM

In the museum’s words

The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.

This figure comes from the tomb of Duke Philip the Bold from the church of Champmol near Dijon (Burgundy, France). Philip, who founded the monastery and designated it as his burial place, hired the best artists, many of whom came from the Netherlands. While the commission was given in 1381, the work was not completed until 1410, six years after the duke’s death.

This mourner is unusual for the time because it is not carved as a static low relief on the pedestal of the tomb but interact with the viewers and their fellow procession members. The lifelike quality of the figure is due in large part to the alabaster. Its softness allowed artists to carve details into the material, and the transparent, milky white stone could also be polished to a high gloss.

FOLLOW THE SOURCE

Text and image sources

The Cleveland Museum of Art · Bequest of Leonard C. Hanna Jr. · CC0

The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.

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