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Art & Thought: The Mourners: Medieval Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy

posted by ChickSpeak
Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 2:07pm CDT

A procession of mourners stands upon a black slab of stone. The bishop carries a staff in his left hand and an open book in the other. His face is furrowed with wrinkles, and his eyes are closed, as if deep in thought. His heavy robes, brooch, and decorated headdress enhance the solemnity and wisdom found in his peaceful though melancholy expression.

The bishop stands just inches away from the deacon in front of him who carries a cross that is now broken. Unlike the bishop, the deacon’s expression is one full of sadness. He arches his head back, his eyes peering up at the heavens while his two hands grip both ends of the cross. The simplicity of the boy’s robes elevates his innocence. Viewers get the sense that his heart is still too vulnerable for the emotional gravity of such ceremonies, and that he is learning in these times the true nature of life: that all life must eventually come to an end, even for the young.

The bishop and the deacon are only two figures in a collection of statuettes currently in residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Borrowed from the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, France, the alabaster figurines were carved by artists Jean de La Huerta and Antoine Le Moiturier in the years 1443-1456. The statues, however, are not the first of their kind. The procession of mourners follows a similar collection of statuettes created by Claus Sluter at an earlier date for Duke Philip the Bold who lived from 1342 to 1404.

While the statuettes are noted for their detail and expressiveness, it was the space given to them when they were first exhibited which makes the work truly impressive. In France, the mourners were placed at the base of a tomb belonging to John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and his wife, Margaret of Bavaria. They were arranged to appear as though they were in real procession, passing through the open arcades of a monastic cloister.

What I found to be especially impressive about the statuettes is the amount of movement being communicated in each individual figurine. Even the ones that appear to stand motionless are able to convey an emotion, which cannot be found in any other piece within the collection. One of my favorites in the exhibit happened to be a faceless mourner whose hood is completely drawn over his head. He is looking down at his hands, which are clasped tightly together. His body is stooped over, but there is a quality in this figure that makes it remarkably poignant. Though his hands are held together, they are not bound in a way that is violent or malevolent. Rather, it appears as though he is praying and searching through his hands a way to solace and peace.

The variety found in each one of these statuettes is reason enough for anyone to visit the exhibit. Every single one is created to capture a moment. A mourner who holds out a string of rosary beads. A choir boy who looks off into the distance, perhaps distracted by some sound or vision. A Carthusian monk carrying a book that appears to be bookmarked at a single page. These are the characters that move along the narrow stone block at the Metropolitan Museum, illuminated by white light and watched by the monumental Enthroned Virgin who sits silently above.

The Enthroned Virgin is a sight visitors are greeted to whenever they enter the Medieval Sculpture Hall. It is an intimate depiction of the Virgin and her Child, characterized by the protective way in which the young Christ is held and the open book that they are reading together. This figure, coupled with the procession of mourners just beneath, makes this latest experience at the Metropolitan Museum nothing short of a heavenly one.

For more information, please visit the exhibition’s website. Located in the Medieval Sculpture Hall, “The Mourners: Medieval Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy” will be on display until May 23, 2010.

Katherine J. Chen is a sophomore English major at Princeton University with a certificate in Creative Writing. She is still amazed at the amount of detail and attention that went into each figurine and wonders how anyone could have the patience to complete such an enormous task.