Funeral of a Trappist monk, 1860 - 1873

Constantin Meunier is best known for his sculptures of workers and miners. However, he made his debut in 1857 with dark paintings, mostly with a religious theme. In that period, he regularly stayed at Westmalle Abbey. He found inspiration there for 'Funeral of a Trappist Monk'. This work shows Meunier's great talent for creating types, just as he did later with the 'miner'. In this funeral procession, the coffin is carried by friars while the priests carry burning candles. Their gaze is turned inwards, they are anonymous and silent figures. The long schematic silhouettes show the essence of monastic life. The intense expression of the draped rugs is also striking; no heavy baroque dynamics but only a few sculptural folds. The design drawings for this work are kept in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels.