COYSEVOX, Antoine
(b. 1640, Lyon, d. 1720, Paris)

Tomb of Colbert

1685-87
Marble
Saint-Eustache, Paris

In Coysevox's designs for tombs a tendency towards the Baroque can be seen. In the tomb of Colbert, the deceased is in the traditional kneeling pose, but with deep undercutting and strong shadows. In its original form the allegorical figures would also have started a movement in depth up to the main figure, which is destroyed by the present arrangement of the monument. By articulating the figures broadly and placing Colbert on a distinct level the sculptor achieved solemnity.




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