The Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy, is an exhibit of 39 alabaster figures from the 1443 tomb of the Second Duke of Burgundy, John the Fearless. These sculptures are a part of the tomb itself, placed into a cloister area above the crypt, but will be travelling without the tomb to seven museums in the United States from March 2010 through April 2012.
Mourner with hood folded back, his cloak folded beneath his crossed arms
16 1/8 x 5 15/16 x 3 15/16 inches
"The Mourners from the tombs of the Dukes of Burgundy are deeply affecting works of art. Beyond their evident visual and narrative qualities, we cannot help but be struck by the emotion they convey as they follow the funeral procession, weeping, praying, singing, lost in thought, giving vent to their grief, or consoling their neighbor. Mourning, they remind us, is a collective experience, common to all people and all moments in history."
Sophie Jugie, Director, Musée des Beaux-Arts. Dijon
Mourner with hood folded back, both hands at his belt, a dagger at his left side
Mourner with uncovered head, drying his tears with a fold of his cloak held in his right hand
Exhibition Schedule
March 2, 2010 - May 23, 2010: Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
June 20, 2010 - September 6, 2010: Saint Louis Art Museum
October 3, 2010 - January 2, 2011: Dallas Art Museum
January 23, 2011 - April 17, 2011: Minneapolis Institute of Art
May 8, 2011 - July 31, 2011: Los Angeles County Museum of Art
August 21, 2011 - January 1, 2012: Legion of Honor in San Francisco
January 20, 2012 - April 15, 2012: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond
Mourner with an uncovered head, holding back his tears with his left hand
For those unable to visit these museums, please take a look at the incredible website for this exhibition, featuring 360 degree, 3d and high definition views and downloads of these masterworks at
http://www.themourners.org/mourners.html. All images and information posted here are from the Mourners website. Thanks to Julia Barber
http://twitter.com/museumasmuse for finding this!
Mourner with hood folded back, pointing with his right hand to a wrapped book held in his left hand
Tomb of John the Fearless with Mourner Sculptures
Mourner with a toque, his eyes lowered
Mourner with drawn hood drying his eyes with a fold of his cloak held in his right hand, his left hand on his chest
1 comment:
Thank you for this post. These sculpture are quite moving. I think that as a culture we've forgotten how beautiful grieving can be.
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