Claus Sluter
Biography of Flemish International Gothic Sculptor, Noted For "Well of Moses".
Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art - HOMEPAGE

Tomb of Philip the Bold, Duke of
Burgundy (1390-1406)
(Archeological Museum, Dijon)

Claus Sluter (1340-1406)

Flemish sculptor, Claus Sluter was the foremost sculptor of his day and a leading influence in the transition from International Gothic to the more naturalistic Renaissance style. In particular, he was one of the most important proponents of northern realism and a key figure in the Dijon school of medieval art. His figures are naturalistic and expressive, and are more earthly bound rather than idealistic. His style of sculpture went on to influence a generation of realist painters like Jan van Eyck, Roger Van der Weyden, Matthias Grunewald, Albrecht Durer and Lucas Cranach the Elder - and sculptors like Hans Multscher. Sluter's most famous surviving work is the Well of Moses (Moses Fountain, 1395-1403), originally created for the Carthusian Monastery (better known as the Chartreuse de Champmol), but now housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Dijon.

FAMOUS MEDIEVAL SCULPTORS
Gislebertus (12th century)
Master of Cabestany (12th century)
Master Mateo (12th century)
Benedetto Antelami (active 1178-1196)
Nicola Pisano (c.1206-1278)
Giovanni Pisano (c.1250-1314)
Arnolfo di Cambio (c.1240–1310)
Giovanni di Balduccio (c.1290–1339)
Andrea Pisano (1295-1348)
Filippo Calendario (pre-1315-1355)
Giorgio da Sebenico (1410-1473)
Michel Colombe (c.1430-1512)
Veit Stoss (c.1447-1533)
Tilman Riemenschneider (c.1460-1531)
Gregor Erhart (c.1460-1540).

MEDIEVAL SCULPTURE
For details of the plastic arts during
the Middle Ages, see these resources:
Medieval Sculpture (c.400-1000)
From Late Antiquity to Romanesque
Medieval Artists
Painters/sculptors (1000-1400)
Romanesque Sculpture (1000-1200)
Rounded-arch Architecture/Sculpture
Gothic Sculpture (1150-1280)
Cathedral Art, Ile de France.
German Gothic Sculpture
Strasbourg, Bamberg Cathedrals
English Gothic Sculpture
Wells, Westminster Cathedrals
See also: Gothic Architecture.

EVOLUTION OF SCULPTURE
For details of the origins and
development of the plastic arts
see: History of Sculpture.

BEST WORKS OF SCULPTURE
For a list of the world's top 100
3-D artworks, by the best sculptors
in the history of art, see:
Greatest Sculptures Ever.

Biography

Born in Haarlem, Netherlands in 1340, Sluter's life remains largely unrecorded. It is thought that his full name may be Claes de Slutere van Herlam who was listed in the records of the stonemason's guild in Brussels about 1379. Around 1385 he entered the service of Philip II the Bold, ruler of Netherlands and regent of France. Sluter's talent appears to have been recognised quickly within Philip's service. Kathleen Morand was an artist in the Court of Burgundy, and in the preface of one of her books she commented that Sluter was "destined to become one of the great sculptors of all time".

Monastery of Champmol in Dijon

As far as we know, Sluter spent the greatest portion of his working life, decorating the Carthusian monastery of Champmol in Dijon, of which Philip was a patron and where Philip planned to be buried with his family. The monastery became a prodigious art centre and drew artists from far and wide, including the sculptor Jean de Marville (Chief sculptor when Sluter arrived at the workshop). It was here that Sluter created his famous hexagonal fountain called the Well of Moses. Carved in stone, it was considered an extremely important artwork in its time. The six-sided well was a symbol of the 'fountain of life'. It was adorned with figures of the six prophets and six weeping angels, which Sluter took great care to depict as realistically as possible. The fountain was crowned with a crucifix and at the foot were the figures of the Virgin Mary, St John and Mary Magdalene. It was carved with great precision and then painted and gilded by the artist Jean Malouel. During the French Revolution, parts of the fountain were destroyed but some of the figures and base fortunately survived and are now housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Dijon. Sluter was also responsible for creating other sculptures for the Carthusian monastery, including those of Philip and his wife, and a tomb for Philip (now restored and reassembled in the Museum of Fine Arts).

SCULPTING MEDIA
For different types of carving,
and modelling, see:
Marble Sculpture
Pentelic, Carrara, Parian marbles.
Wood Carving
Chip carving, relief carving of
softwoods and hardwoods.
Bronze Sculpture
Lost-wax casting method,
sandcasting, centrifugal casting.

BEST SCULPTORS
For a list of the world's most
talented 3-D artists, see:
Greatest Sculptors.

Chief Sculptor to Philip II the Bold

According to court archives, Sluter succeeded Jean de Marville (on Marville’s death) as Chief Sculptor to Philip in 1389 and in 1395 he bought his nephew Claus de Werve to Dijon to assist him on his works at the monastery. His nephew would go on to succeed him as Chief sculptor after his death. Although Sluter designed and completed the architectural portion of the Duke's tomb by 1389, it was only to be fully completed 11 years later by de Werve. Some historians like to minimize the part played by Sluter in this famous tomb, attributing the overall design to Marville and the sculptures on the base to de Werve. Others claim it is completely the design of Sluter. As it is, only some of the figures on the base remain, three are lost, and three are in the Cleveland Museum of Art and one is in a private French collection. The tomb would serve as a model for artists who sculpted tombs throughout France. Assuming (fairly safely) that Sluter did design the figures - they were completely innovative for their time - no two figures are alike, some are openly expressing their sorrow, while others contain their grief, some are robbed in heavy wool, other in lighter garments. They are truly unique.

Legacy

Sluter was an innovator in art. Contemporaries of his time, such as Andre Beauneveu were still creating works according to prevailing tastes for graceful delicate figures. Sluter pushed the boundaries; his figures are expressive, real and voluminous. He has often been compared favourably to the Italian sculptors Jacopo della Quercia and Donatello who only came on the art scene several decades later. Sluter died in 1406, two years after his patron Philip.

• For more facts about plastic arts in Ireland, see: Irish Art Encyclopedia.
• For details of sculptors in Ireland, see Irish Sculpture.
• For the evolution and development of the visual arts, see: History of Art.

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