Sluter, Well of Moses발음듣기
Sluter, Well of Moses
(piano playing) [Dr. Zucker] We're standing on a wooden walkway suspended over water, which is actually fairly deep.발음듣기
This monument stood in the middle of a cloister surrounded by the cells of Carthusian monks, the rooms where they would meditate and this cloister was in a monastery established by Philip the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy.발음듣기
We're in Burgundy, in Dijon, or rather I should say just outside of the old walls of the city.발음듣기
This was a place that the Duke had commissioned in order that monks could continuously say prayers over his soul.발음듣기
[Dr. Harris] It also was intended by Philip, and became his burial place and the burial place of his family.발음듣기
[Dr. Zucker] It's interesting that Philip the Bold, the Duke actually seems to have really loved the Carthusians.발음듣기
In fact, he specified that he would be buried in a Carthusian robe and of course he wanted to be buried here.발음듣기
[Dr. Harris] We're looking at a very well funded monastery, the most brilliant artists of Europe are working here including Claus Sluter.발음듣기
[Dr. Zucker] Interestingly and importantly, this is breaking with the Medieval tradition of having those figures completely embedded within the architecture.발음듣기
[Dr. Harris] Each figure of the Prophet is separated by a lovely column with a Capital and standing on those Capital's are Angel's in positions of grieving and prayer with their wings outstretched.발음듣기
Above them we see a base and on the base would have stood a very tall and narrow cross with Christ on it and at the base of that cross the single, kneeling figure of Mary Magdalene.발음듣기
It really would have come alive and the monks would have been inspired in their prayer when they looked at this monument.발음듣기
The drapery really does give a sense of the movement of the body within it, maybe not so much the structures of the body but at least its engagement with the space around it.발음듣기
First of all, a figure that would have been very important to the Duke of Burgundy, of David, himself, a King.발음듣기
There's a recent suggestion that that figure next to King David, who is the Prophet Jeremiah is also a portrait of Philip the Bold.발음듣기
[Dr. Zucker] In fact, if we look at contemporary portraits of Philip they look awfully similar.발음듣기
[Dr. Zucker] But also challenges us, challenges the monks that would have lived with this sculpture, "Do you see as I see?발음듣기
'"Do you understand the importance of the tragedy of the spiritual and miracle that transpires above?"발음듣기
[Dr. Harris] We have these Angel's all in different positions, some with their arms folded on their chest, some with their arms raised, some clutching their drapery or touching their face.발음듣기
There's a depth of emotion in the figures of the Prophets and a real depth of emotion in the Angel's, all of which, I think, would have been inspiration to the monks.발음듣기
The monastery itself was meant to continuously pray for the soul of the Duke, so in some ways this sculptural group of what we now call The Well of Moses was the engine in the center of the monastery that was meant to power, in a sense, inspire the prayer of the monks.발음듣기