NORTHERN FRENCH, CIRCA 1500, | Man of sorrows

Vaucelles Abbaye, near Cambrai.

The most sculptural depictions of Man of Sorrows derive from Flemish painting iconography. Since the last third of 15th century, they spread to France, notably in the North and in the East. This Man of Sorrows is from Vaucelles Abbey, which was built in 1132 by Saint-Bernard on the lands of Hughes d'Oisy, squire of Cambrai. It is a particularly elaborate example with, in addition to the traditional skull, mocking cloak, crown of thorns, and ropes, two executioners sitting at Christ's feet, tying a heavy rope to his ankles. It can be compared to the Man of Sorrows of Sainte-Wandru, in Mons, or the one of Mailly-Maillet, in the Somme. RELATED LITERATURE
J. Boccador, Statuaire médiévale en France de 1400 à 1530, tome II, 1974, pp. 221 et 232.