Cadaver Tomb of René of Chalon, Cadaver tomb in Saint-Étienne Church, Bar-le-Duc, France
The Cadaver Tomb is a limestone sculpture housed in the right transept of Saint-Étienne Church that depicts a skeletal figure standing upright with one arm extended outward. The work displays meticulously carved details of human decomposition carved in pale stone.
This monument was created by sculptor Ligier Richier between 1544 and 1547 to commemorate René de Chalon, who died at age 25. The death occurred during the siege of Saint-Dizier, a military event of that era.
This sculpture embodies the late medieval view of death as a natural part of human existence, showing the body's transformation rather than an idealized image. Visitors encounter a direct confrontation with mortality that was meaningful to people of that era.
The sculpture is located in the right transept of the church and is easy to find once you enter the building. Taking time to view it from different angles allows you to appreciate the carved details at your own pace.
The left hand of the statue originally held René de Chalon's actual heart in a reliquary, which disappeared during the French Revolution. This special practice linked the physical depiction of death with a personal relic of the deceased.
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