Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
French medieval statues march in New York
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
French medieval statues march in New York
AFP - Wednesday, March 3
Send
IM Story
Print
"Mourners from the Tomb of Duke John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria", 37 alabaster sculptures on display March 1, 2010 in the exhibition "The Mourners: Medieval Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The sculptures are on loan from the Musée de Beaux-Arts de Dijon in France.
NEW YORK (AFP) - – In a sense, they've spent the last five centuries walking, but 37 statues from a French nobleman's tomb are debuting on their biggest journey yet with an exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The 15th century alabaster statues -- considered treasures of Medieval Europe -- have never before left the city of Dijon, where they march perpetually around the base of the tomb of John the Fearless and his wife Margaret of Bavaria.
Now they can be seen walking two-by-two down a plain catwalk in the heart of the Met in the exhibition The Mourners: Medieval Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy.
Carved over a 25-year-period by sculptors Jean de la Huerta and Antoine le Moiturier, each statue represents a mourner -- mostly ecclesiastical figures such as a bishop, a choirboy and rows of monks from the Carthusian order.
In their normal setting in Dijon they are only partially seen as they blend in between miniature Gothic arches lacing the base of the wealthy and powerful couple's black marble tomb.
The open display at New York's Met has allowed them to loosen up, emerging as individuals with sometimes surprising results.
Far from being pompous advertisements for the deceased couple's religious devoutness and social standing, the monks and priests of the procession exude individuality, humanity and a cheeky strain of rebellion.
The higher-ranking clerics at the front maintain serious faces and hold books.
Many are clearly struck with emotion. Several dab at their eyes with their robes. Others have pulled their huge cowls far over their heads, obscuring their faces.
But as the procession continues, the mood becomes more uneven. One monk pulls at his apparently over-tight belt. Another blows his nose. One pulls back his cowl to see better.
"It's the first time I've seen them like this. Before I never saw their backs," said Francois Rebsamen, mayor of Dijon, who helped host a preview of the exhibition.
"It's very funny. The ones at the front are more official looking. They have the higher rank. At the back it's different."
Although completed many years later, the alabaster procession is meant to record the actual funeral for John the Fearless, the second duke of Burgundy, who died in 1419.
They have walked tirelessly in place beneath his remains ever since.
"They've only moved once in all their history and by only a few hundred meters," Rebsamen said.
Renovation work at the Musee des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, where the tomb is housed, prompted the idea of separating the statues and putting them on tour as centerpieces in an exhibition on the mourners.
They will be shown, along with related figures, in seven US cities and Paris before returning home in 2012.
"The expressive power attained by the 15th-century sculptors of these statuettes will be quite a revelation to many of our visitors," said Thomas Campbell, director of the Metropolitan Museum.
The "phenomenal" works "capture the entire spectrum of emotions connected with human loss," he said. "When the sculptures are grouped together, the viewer is transfixed."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 1 hour 27 minutes ago
Top court sides with publishers on $18 million deal Reuters - 1 hour 28 minutes ago
Economic crisis silences Romania rock festival AFP - 1 hour 58 minutes ago
French medieval statues march in New York AFP - Wednesday, March 3
Looking back at Oscar's biggest goof Reuters - Tuesday, March 2
News Search
Top Stories
EU authorises GMO potatoes
Japan passes record $1 trillion budget
GM to more than triple Opel investment
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
NASA radar finds ice on moon's north pole
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
NASA radar finds ice on moon's north pole
World's most powerful atom smasher restarts: CERN
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
Be of good heart: Happiness helps ward off cardiac disease
Vast iceberg could disrupt ocean currents, weather
More Most Viewed »
Florida killer whale to stay in park after deadly attack
DNA reveals some mystery on King Tut, raises questions
First footage of clouded leopard captured in Borneo
Scientists recreate Big Bang heat of 4 tln degrees C
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Tuesday, 2 March 2010 Iran to cooperate with IAEA, continue talks
French rescuers search for more bodies after deadly storm
Chile rushes troops, aid to quake-stricken towns
|
US-TECH Summary
US consumer spending grows but incomes lag
Turkey warns U.S. against "genocide" bill in Congress
Spain accuses Venezuela over plot to kill Uribe
Freescale's new chip aims to lower e-reader price tag
Iran 'not cooperating' on nuclear issue: IAEA chief
Spanish court says Venezuela helped ETA, FARC
|
EU privacy body wants changes to Google Street View
One in four Germans wants microchip under skin: poll
EU membership a 'priority': Ukraine president
Dubai says hit team had 27th member
U.N. report on possible Iran bomb work factual: Amano
|
With new fighter in hand, Putin wants modern bombers
|
Yemeni forces clash with suspected rebels in south
|
UK arrests Bosnian ex-leader wanted by Serbia
|
Top US court dismisses Uighur Guantanamo appeal
Freescale's new chip aims to lower e-reader price tag
|
U.S., Russia arms teams pause before treaty push
Israel says China attentive to Iran sanctions plea
US plans 'dramatic' cuts in nuclear arsenal
Lockheed seeks to predict cybersecurity threats
|
Idol creator launches Dream interactive venture
|
Focus on rising Chinese political star Bo
Uzbekistan charges 200 with plotting alleged coup
Attacks kill 4 NATO personnel in Afghanistan
Indian PM visits Saudi Arabia
Pro-gov't party leads vote results in Tajikistan
Pixi discounts seen hurting Palm profits
|
Prudential buys AIG Asia for record 35.5 billion dollars
Toyota president apologizes to Chinese customers
Japan's new car sales up despite Toyota recalls
Japanese fishing town recalls horror of tsunami 50 years ago
Ailing Quebec churches undergo secular transformation
Spelling reform causing headaches in Portugal
TV's "Parenthood" revisits family life, 20 years on
Irish town snubs Israel envoy in protest: report
Former Bosnian leader Ganic arrested in London
Chile struggles to keep order in quake-hit city
|
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
NASA radar finds ice on moon's north pole
Telco software groups line up facing Google, Apple
Russia says it may consider Iran sanctions
British scientist in climate row admits 'awful' emails
Afghanistan bans coverage of Taliban attacks
|
Obama plans 'dramatic reductions' in US nuclear weapons
Game on for PS3 users after Sony fixes bug
Medvedev moves Russia closer to Iran sanctions
Apple cracks down on labor abuses at gadget factories
Dubai murder suspects hiding out in Israel: police
EU ups pressure in Greece debt crisis
Medvedev in France backs sanctions on Iran
Intel's Maloney, possible CEO heir, suffers stroke
Afghan violence kills four NATO soldiers, 10 civilians
Anti-drug drive a challenge for Mexico: U.S. report
|
Russia says it may consider Iran sanctions
|
Sustainable Energy bets on Ontario solar market
Google buys photo editing site Picnik
Spain accuses Venezuela over assassination plot
Haitian-Americans aid quake recovery, eye future
|
"Idol" creator launches "Dream" interactive venture
German high-tech sector flat in 2010: trade body
Lockheed seeks to predict cybersecurity threats
Medvedev hopes for START successor deal soon
|
Game on for PS3 users after Sony fixes bug
Clinton balks at Argentine request for Falklands mediation
Obama plans 'dramatic reductions' in US nuclear weapons
Telco software groups line up facing Google, Apple
|
Protests by Muslims leave 2 dead in southern India
Intel's Maloney, possible CEO heir, suffers stroke
|
Malaysia confirms 1st swine flu death this year
Violence in India over Bangladesh writer
Japan will push to resume commercial whaling
Top China football officials charged in graft probe
Reports: 2 SKorea fighter jets crash into mountain
Indonesian police warn protesters against insults
U.S. seeks to smooth China ties, win backing on Iran
N.Korea cutting back on drug trafficking: US
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Report: China drafts 10-year 'green energy' plan
Seoul shares rise 1.3 pct;chips gain, Hyundai down
Prudential taps Asia sovereign funds over AIA deal
NZ dollar eases after Australian rate hike
Toyota repairing leaky oil hoses in US, Japan
PAKISTAN
US seeks China, India, Brazil info on Doha deal
Korea Hot Stocks
S.Korea bonds edge down, Feb inflation seen slower
Japan's unemployment rate falls in January
Hollywood film tackles Taiwan's martial law era
NBC gets silver for Olympics, Seinfeld no medal
|
The Pacific a realistic view of American combat
|
Crazies remake influenced by post-9/11 world
|
Final Shrek movie to open Tribeca Film Fest
|
David Bowie's new makeover: Rock 'n' roll recluse
|
Wall Street is alive with the sound of ... Chopin?
|
Winter Olympics pull impressive ratings for NBC
TLC dumps Miss America franchise
|
Keeping clean and healthy with cow dung and urine
Shutter Island still captivates moviegoers
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Palm oil: environmental curse or a blessing?
"Crazies" remake influenced by post-9/11 world
US daredevil breaks Harley leap record twice in one hour
In Poland, Chopin's music defines a nation
Hollywood film tackles Taiwan's martial law era
Nepal's stolen children highlight flawed adoption system
Iraq war takes centre stage at Oscars
TLC dumps Miss America franchise
Pakistan seizes Taliban, Al-Qaeda base
Rwandan leader's widow arrested in France
GM recalls 1.3 mln American cars over power steering
General and prosecutor charged in Turkey plot case
Nokia starts new phone line with C5 model
Iran detains director Panahi
Ukraine coalition collapses, no-confidence vote due
|
Google launches 'Street View' charm offensive
GM to more than triple Opel investment
Dubai asks FBI to check credit cards in Hamas hit
Google acquires photo-editing site
Israel urges U.S. to adopt Cuba-like embargo on Iran
|
Karadzic denies Sarajevo, Srebrenica war crimes
|
Mayor delays divisive east Jerusalem park project
Award-winning filmmaker Panahi arrested in Tehran raid: son
North Korea presses direct nuclear talks with U.S
|
UK opposition says Labour victory would weaken pound
|
General and prosecutor charged in Turkey plot case
|
Sri Lanka to call dissolved parliament to extent emergency
|
Rwandan ex-president's widow arrested in France
|
Nokia starts new phone line with C5 model
Apple sues HTC for patent infringement
|
Nokia starts new phone line with C5 model
|
Google acquires photo-editing site
|
Turkmens aim to soften punitive system
2 South Korean fighter jets crash; 3 airmen killed
N.Korea says war games threaten nuclear disarmament
India's PM meets rebels in bid to end insurgency
Tajikistan's Islamic party to sue election board
North Korea presses direct nuclear talks with U.S.
India, Pakistan to attend US nuclear summit
Australia to extradite killer of famed surgeon
US envoys' visit to Beijing aims to heal ties
Bangladesh arrests man in '99 Indian Air hijacking
India exports rise for 3rd month, new orders peak
Pakistani rupee at closing low; o/n rates, stocks up
Taiwan banks' profits to rise, provisions too-Fitch
Japan's jobless rate down, but Toyota woes seen as threat
Europe has 'solid case' over China shoe dumping
Daimler, BYD to build electric car for Chinese market
S.Korea Feb inflation slows, but outlook higher
China high-speed railway firm plans to list: media
Philippine phone company's profit up 15 percent
Toyota fixing 1.3 million vehicles over oil leak
French medieval statues march in New York
China demand driving world wine market growth: study
Australia pays Indonesia $27 million to save trees
Looking back at Oscar's biggest goof
|
Durban's street vendors tackle new languages for WC fans
Looking back at Oscar's biggest goof
Rocks, tear gas fly outside Indonesian parliament
Indonesian-Australian carbon project in Sumatra
Top court sides with publishers on $18 million deal
|
Crisis-hit Russian city fears total shutdown
Indonesia bank bail-out: Protesters, police clash
David Bowie's new makeover: Rock 'n' roll recluse
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights