Have you ever been blown away by art? I mean stopped in your tracks, take your breath away, heart poundingly, awed? Have you ever, even once, mourned the death of someone who died almost 600 years ago?
I dragged Mrs. T into the big city yesterday to go the Saint Louis Art Museum's exhibit "The Mourners".
The mourners are a series of 39 alabaster sculptures, each about 15 inches tall, from the tomb of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy from 1404 until 1419. Commissioned by the Duke's son, Phillip the Good, the carvings were completed by Jean de la Huerta and Antoine Le Moiturier around 1456.
During the Revolution many of the sculptures were borrowed by anti-royalists, but over time most were recovered and reunited with John's tomb in Dijon.
John's tomb is being restored, which allowed the opportunity for the sculptures to go on tour, (and pay for the restoration?). Once the restoration is complete it is thought they will never leave Dijon again.
Until then, there are 5 more cities to visit, closing in Richmond Va. in January 2012.
If you have the opportunity go, go often. The quality of the work is astounding, the emotion they evoke is visceral. These are masterworks.
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