Spanish, Salamanca
Tomb Figure of a Knight, about 1498-1500
Alabaster, 43.2 x 63.5 x 194.3 cm (17 x 25 x 76 1/2 in.)
A tomb figure of an armored knight in repose is carved in stone. The knight is lying on their back with their legs outstretched and head and shoulders resting on two pillows. Their face is smooth, with a large nose with a prominent bridge, closed mouth, large open eyes, and a chipped chin. They have shoulder length wavy hair topped by a cap. The textured pattern of the chain mail covering the knight’s neck and torso is finely detailed. They are wearing a full set of armor over the chain mail. The breastplate is decorated with a scalloped shield. They are wearing metal gloves on hands that are clasped at their waist, holding a broken dagger. They are wearing a wide belt with many pouches. Their elbows are covered with a metal piece that is decorated with a floral medallion and scalloped edging. Their legs are covered with armor that has a medallion at the knees. The armor on their feet appears to be segmented and features bows on the toes.
Spanish Chapel
Commentary
Noble tombs in Europe often contain figures that portray the deceased. Here, alabaster has been intricately carved to show the textile pattern on the pillow and the chain mail of the armor—all indicators that the deceased was an aristocratic knight.
After the opening of her museum, Isabella Gardner took up a new interest in Spanish art, partly because Italian Renaissance paintings had become too expensive. In 1906, she visited Madrid, where she bought this sculpture. In 1914, she rebuilt part of the museum as the Spanish Cloister (for Sargent’s El Jaleo) and the Spanish Chapel. Isabella Gardner left instructions that her body should lie in state just outside this chapel—in death she would enact the same pose as the stone knight.
After the opening of her museum, Isabella Gardner took up a new interest in Spanish art, partly because Italian Renaissance paintings had become too expensive. In 1906, she visited Madrid, where she bought this sculpture. In 1914, she rebuilt part of the museum as the Spanish Cloister (for Sargent’s El Jaleo) and the Spanish Chapel. Isabella Gardner left instructions that her body should lie in state just outside this chapel—in death she would enact the same pose as the stone knight.