The Well of Moses, a hexagonal fountain pedestal featuring life-sized Old Testament figures, stands as the most significant output of the Dutch sculptor Claus Sluter. Created between 1395 and 1403 for the Carthusian monastery of Champmol, the monument exemplifies the early northern realism that influenced the subsequent generation of Early Netherlandish painters.
Professional Origins
Born in Haarlem around 1340, Sluter eventually relocated to the Duchy of Burgundy. Records from 1379 and 1380 indicate his membership in the Guild of the Four Crowned Ones and his presence in the Register of the Corporation of Stonemasons and Sculptors of Brussels. By 1385, he reached Dijon, where he served as an assistant to Jean de Marville, the court sculptor for Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Upon succeeding Marville in 1389, Sluter assumed the title of court sculptor and held the rank of valet de chambre until his death in 1406.
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The Well of Moses served as the focal point for the Carthusian monastery of Champmol, established by Philip the Bold in 1383. Constructed from Tonnerre and Asnières limestone, the hexagonal fountain features sculptures of Moses, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, Zachariah, and Isaiah. These figures hold phylacteries and books containing verses that contextualize the sacrifice of Christ. While the original upper structure, which included a cross, suffered destruction between 1736 and 1789, some fragments remain preserved within the Musée Archéologique de Dijon.
Portal and Funerary Sculpture
Beyond the fountain, Sluter executed the sculptural program for the portal of the former mortuary chapel at Champmol. This work includes a Madonna and Child at the trumeau, flanked by sculptures of Philip the Bold with St. John and the Duchess with St. Catherine. Sluter also contributed significantly to the tomb of Philip the Bold, currently housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Dijon. Additionally, he participated in creating the pleurants, or mourners, situated in niches beneath the tombs of Philip the Bold, Margaret, and John the Fearless.
Fast facts
- Born: 1340, Haarlem
- Died: 1406, Dijon
- Primary Occupation: Sculptor
- Notable Work: Well of Moses
- Court Title: Valet de chambre
- Successor: Claus de Werve
- Affiliation: Guild of the Four Crowned Ones
Questions readers ask
What happened to the original cross atop the Well of Moses?
The cross was destroyed between 1736 and 1789, likely due to the collapse of the roof protecting the monument.
Who succeeded Claus Sluter as court sculptor?
His nephew, Claus de Werve, succeeded him.
Achievements
- Notable work: Well of Moses
