Knight in Prayer (44.25) - no background

Description

This is an almost waist-length carved stone sculpture, said to be a portrait of Le Chevalier Dunois, a companion-in-arms of St Joan of Arc. The knight is shown at prayer, wearing plate armour, but without a helmet. The figure has possibly been cut down from a full-length, probably kneeling figure, and may have been originally part of a tomb. The sculpture probably dates from the 15th century. The sculpture is fine, and the depiction of the armour is particularly interesting in that it is very accurately portrayed, down to the smallest detail. The sculpture was purchased by Sir William Burrell from the dealers Acton Surgey in May 1929.