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| TOMB OF LOUIS DE BREZE IN THE CATHEDRAL OF
ROUEN - This cast stood in alcove 90, of the east court of the Art Palace in Jackson Park, and represented
the tomb of the High Seneschal of Normandy, who died in 1531. In the
original the body, of alabaster, lies on a sarcophagus of black
marble. The widow, Diana of Poitiers, mourns at the head, and the
Blessed Virgin bearing the Child stands consolingly at the feet.
This beautiful sculptural creation was the work of Jean Cousin and
Jean Goujon. The height is about twenty-two feet. The central
object on this tomb is the effigy of De Breze, in complete panoply,
moving into action on his war-horse, and the boldness of the lateral
treatment, which shows four equally large, or larger, caryatides
supporting the coronal entablature, may be noted as the most
significant lesson to be here learned. It is certain that the eye
goes to the scene of glory rather than to the end of man below, and
he was a great artist who permitted so much effect on each side of
his successful central figure. These caryatides represent Victory,
Faith, Prudence and Glory, (beginning at the left). On the upper
entablature is reared a nimiature work of similar skill and
commemorative of the courage of De Breze. Inscriptions in Latin
appear on the pedestals, and on the tablets, which decorate the main
walls of the monument, the virtues of the dead husband are recounted
on black marble. |
