Asset Overview
Limestone
French, Loire Valley, after 1258-by 1267
From the Cistercian abbey of La Clarté-Dieu, north of Tours
The Cloisters Collection, 1925 (25.120.201)
Across three generations, men of the d'Aluye family of France embarked for the Holy Land, their mission to reclaim it for European Christians and redeem their own souls. The pride of this knight was such that he chose to be presented for eternity as a heavily armed-but prayerful-warrior. His sword does not match his armor; its form is typical of Chinese weapony. Did he purchase it in a market of the Holy Land or forcibly wrest it from an adversary?
The effigy is supported by a modern base.
Scanned at The Met Cloisters with a DJI Osmo Pocket.