LACMA PRESENTS HISTORIC FRENCH TOMB SCULPTURES AS PART OF THE FIRST AND ONLY US TOUR

The Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy at LACMA
May 8, 2011–July 31, 2011
Plaza level, Ahmanson building                                          

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) presents The Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy—a group of nearly 40 alabaster sculptures that have never before been presented together outside of France—on view from May 8 through July 31, 2011, as part of the first and only seven-city exhibition tour in the United States. Co-organized by the Dallas Museum of Art and the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon, France, under the auspices of the French Regional & American Museum Exchange (FRAME), LACMA’s presentation will be curated by J. Patrice Marandel, department head and Robert H. Ahmanson Chief Curator of European Art.

Jean de la Huerta and Antoine le Moiturier, Mourner with Cowl Pulled Down, Right Hand Raised, Left Hand Holding a Book in a Flap of His Cloak, no. 78, 1443–56/57, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon

“It’s such an honor for LACMA to be a part of this groundbreaking tour,” says Marandel. “The Mourners are not only a great piece of art history, but their sorrowful expressions are known to touch audiences on a very emotional level.” 

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Valois dukes of Burgundy were among the most powerful rulers in the Western world, presiding over vast territories in present-day France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands from their capital in Dijon. The significant artistic patronage of the dukes drew artists, musicians, and writers to Dijon, which became a major center of creativity and artistic patronage.

Carved by Jean de la Huerta and Antoine le Moiturier between 1443 and 1457, the unique devotional figures, known as mourners, were commissioned for the elaborate tomb of the second Duke of Burgundy, John the Fearless (1371–1419). The sculptures—each approximately 16 inches high—depict sorrowful figures expressing their grief or devotion to the second Duke, who was both a powerful political figure and patron of the arts.

Jean de la Huerta and Antoine le Moiturier, Mourner with Head Uncovered, Wiping His Tears on His Cloak with His Right, no. 55, 1443–56/57, alabaster, 16 1/16 x 7 1/16 x 5 15/16 in,. Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon

Crafted with astonishing detail, the alabaster sculptures exemplify some of the most important artistic innovations of the late Middle Ages. Each individual figure has a different expression—some wring their hands or dry their tears, hide their faces in the folds of their robes, or appear lost in reverent contemplation. The motif echoes that of ancient sarcophagi, but these innovative tombs were the first to represent mourners as thoroughly dimensional, rather than in semi-relief. The presentation of the mourners passing through the arcades of a cloister was also a great innovation for the tombs of the era. The Mourners provides an unprecedented opportunity to appreciate each sculpture as an individual work of art.

Exhibition Schedule, Catalogue, and Website
The Mourners debuted at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in March 2010, and traveled on to the Saint Louis Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, and Minneapolis Institute of Arts. After its presentation at LACMA, the exhibition will travel to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

The Mourners is accompanied by a richly illustrated 129-page catalogue by Sophie Jugie, Director of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, with prefaces by FRAME Co-Presidents Marie-Christine Labourdette, Elizabeth Rohatyn, and Dijon Mayor François Rebsamen, and an introduction by Philippe de Montebello, Director Emeritus of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and FRAME Trustee.
Published by Yale University Press, the catalogue explores the social and political context in which the tombs were created and features detailed photographs and descriptions of each sculpture in the group.

Jean de la Huerta and Antoine le Moiturier, Cantor Holding an Open Book in Both Hands, no. 48, 1443–56/57, alabaster, 16 1/4 x 6 1/8 x 5 1/8 in., Musée des  Beaux-Arts, Dijon

In addition, a special website dedicated to the mourners (www.themourners.org) provides extensive historical context, as well as 360-degree views of each sculpture in two and three dimensions, allowing viewers to intimately examine every angle and detail. The website, offered by FRAME, also features an interactive exploration re-creating the tomb’s cloister arcade and showing the mourners in situ. Special photography of The Mourners was made possible by a grant from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

Related Public Programs

The Art of Wine: Burgundy—The Wine of Kings
May 14, 6 pm, Art of the Americas Building
Ticket information: To be announced   

Guests of this event will begin the evening with a gallery talk in The Mourners, then go on to enjoy a tasting of the fine wines of Burgundy, which were considered so important that Duke Philip the Bold issued an edict in 1395 safeguarding their quality. The five wines to be sampled are all from the prestigious French winery, Maison Louis Jadot. Planet Wine Founder Barbara Baxter will be on hand to share her knowledge and answer questions.

Support for the FRAME Annenberg Education Project is provided by the Annenberg Foundation through FRAME, the French and American Regional Museum Exchange.
Wine is generously donated by Maison Louis Jadot, France and its U.S. distributor, Kobrand, Purchase, New York.

Jamal Dance Art Theater:  Mourners Dance II
Saturday, May 21, 2011, 2 pm, Bing Theater
Free—tickets available at the LACMA box office one hour before the event

Inspired by The Mourners, Los Angeles-based dance group Jamal Dance Art Theater presents this original performance. A stark stage setting provides a dramatic background for an evocative performance choreographed by Jamal.

The dance performance is generously underwritten by The Ahmanson Foundation.

Art & Music: Los Angeles Chamber Singers’ Cappella, Peter Rutenberg, Music Director
Monday, June 13, 2011, 7:30 pm, Art of the Americas Building
Members $18, general $25, seniors 62+ and students with ID $5

In celebration of The Mourners, Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles Chamber Singers’ Cappella performs an intimate concert inside the galleries. Led by music director Peter Rutenberg, the ensemble will perform French works from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries by Dufay, Josquin, Brumel, and Goudimel. Seating is extremely limited.

Support for the FRAME Annenberg Education Project is provided by the Annenberg Foundation through FRAME, the French and American Regional Museum Exchange.

Docent Tours
LACMA Docents will offer tours of The Mourners on Sundays at 1 pm and on additional days; check www.lacma.org for schedule.

Credit
The Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy was organized by the Dallas Museum of Art and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, under the auspices of FRAME (French Regional and American Museum Exchange).

Jean de la Huerta and Antoine le Moiturier, Mourner with Cowl Pulled Down, Holding a Book in His Right Hand and with His Left Hand Wiping His Tears on His Cloak, no. 51, 1443–56/57, alabaster, 16 1/16 x 7 1/16 x 5 15/16 in,. Musée des Beaux-Arts, Dijon

The exhibition is supported by a leadership gift from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Florence Gould Foundation, the Eugene McDermott Foundation, Connie Goodyear Baron, and Boucheron. Major corporate support is provided by Bank of the West–Member BNP Paribas Group.

This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities.

About FRAME
The French Regional & American Museum Exchange (FRAME), a formal collaboration of 12 museums in France and 12 museums in the United States, serves as a catalyst for cultural exchange between France and the United States. Founded in 1998, FRAME is dedicated to promoting French-American cooperation in the cultural arena concerning museums, their collections and their professional staffs. It fosters partnerships, projects and exchanges of information, personnel, technology, and resources. The projects range from a shared website to many joint exhibitions, educational resources and programs, and publications. They serve the cultural needs of each country and educate a constituency of great size, breadth and distribution. For more information, please visit www.framemuseums.org.

About LACMA
Since its inception in 1965, LACMA has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography-and represent Los Angeles's uniquely diverse population. Today, the museum features particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American, European, and American art, as well as a contemporary museum on its campus. With this expanded space for contemporary art, innovative collaborations with artists, and an ongoing Transformation project, LACMA is creating a truly modern lens through which to view its rich encyclopedic collection.

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