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Pilon appeared as the greatest new sculptor in the 1560s and he became the outstanding genius of this period in France. He worked under the direction of Primaticcio on the astonishing monument to King Henri II and Queen Catherine de' Medici. This is not only one of the stranger philosophical statements of royalty, but one of the world's major masterpieces of sculpture. Here Pilon shows himself working in at least two entirely different manners.
Above, the figures of the King and Queen are represented kneeling in prayer, and rendered in a way that emphasizes the Italian influence and recalls sober court portraiture in the most impeccable royal taste. But on a platform below, the King and Queen lie naked, portrayed as cadavers. This is Northern. The idea of the cadaver was Gothic, and though it was fairly rare, an example was to be found on the neighbouring tomb of François I. But as rendered by Pilon it is fascinating both as a demonstration of religious feeling and sign of the confidence the monarchy must have felt in its position to admit such personal, worldly fallability. In this curious, dramatic and sensitive handling we find another facet of Pilon, and one in which he is as superb as in any of his styles.
The photo shows the naked figures below.
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