Preaching Monk Sculpture In Stone, Early 15th Century. Burgundy.

Limestone preaching monk holding the end of a phylactery in his left hand. Height 56 cm. The stylistic characteristics are similar to the Burgundian school of the early 15th century. The subject of this sculpture is quite rare in iconography. We can admire the skill of the sculptor who was able to convey the tension in this face and the virulence of the preacher's words in his animated gestures. The hairs of the beard are detailed almost one by one, we even see the character's teeth. The garment falls in straight, deep folds on the character's twisting legs. The hat he wears covers his ears. A phylactery must have stretched between his two hands, the left hand holding the end of it folded into a roll, the right having unfortunately disappeared. We can link this sculpture to a workshop close to Claus Sluter, who knew how to give his models the impression of life and movement that we find in our work. The face of the preacher is reminiscent of those of the prophets of the well of Moses of the Chartreuse de Champmol in Dijon, particularly Moses and David with their long bifid beards and of Daniel. The sculpture is in a very good state of conservation. Traces of polychromy.