The valois dukes of burgundy established one of the strangest and most extravagant courts of late medieval europe. From their base in burgundy, by marriage and diplomacy, they acquired large areas of the netherlands to build an extensive, though fragmented state of vast wealth. In 1404, duke philip the bold died at the stag inn near brussels. 20 years earlier his royayal sculptors had begun work on philips tomb. One of them carved these images of the funeral procession which transported his body back to burgundy. Clothed in the habit of a carthusian monk philips embalmed body was sealed in a lead coffin and carried in a funeral cortege whh took nearly seven weeks to wind the 250 miles from brussels to dijon. Accompanied by his sons, his chaplains, and members of his royal court the hearse was drawn by six horses in black with the blue banners of burgundy fluttering at its corners. At dijon, it was received not only by the weeping clergy but by 100 chosen townspeople and 100 poor also c
In 1404, duke philip the bold died at the stag inn near brussels. 20 years earlier his royayal sculptors had begun work on philips tomb. One of them carved these images of the funeral procession which transported his body back to burgundy. Clothed in the habit of a carthusian monk philips embalmed body was sealed in a lead coffin and carried in a funeral cortege whh took nearly seven weeks to wind the 250 miles from brussels to dijon. Accompanied by his sons, his chaplains, and members of his royal court the hearse was drawn by six horses in black with the blue banners of burgundy fluttering at its corners. At dijon, it was received not only by the weeping clergy but by 100 chosen townspeople and 100 poor also clad in black at the dukes expense. As with the other great royal and ducal rituals of the later middle ages death itself could be turned into public theater. Philips tomb itself lay just outside dijon at the carthusian monastery of champmol. It took nearly 30 years to complete a
And carried in a funeral cortege whh took nearly seven weeks to wind the 250 miles from brussels to dijon. Accompanied by his sons, his chaplains, and members of his royal court the hearse was drawn by six horses in black with the blue banners of burgundy fluttering at its corners. At dijon, it was received not only by the weeping clergy but by 100 chosen townspeople and 100 poor also clad in black at the dukes expense. As with the other great royal and ducal rituals of the later middle ages death itself could be turned into public theater. Philips tomb itself lay just outside dijon at the carthusian monastery of champmol. It took nearly 30 years to complete and was finished in 1414. Three sculptors worked on it. Among them was a forgotten genius of european art the man who conceived this remarkable evocation of that funeral procession claus sluter. He came from haarlem in the netherlands and worked for the duke of burgundy for 20 years. Sluters most impressive carving was a monument k
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