Tomb of Isabella of Bourbon

Detail of Isabella's effigy

Isabella's effigy is in bronze and shows her head placed on a cushion and her hands joined in prayer. Her eyes are open and she has long wavy hair. She is wearing expensive jewelry and fashionable clothing including a diadem (a type of banded crown). Common to other tomb sculptures from the Burgundian court, the two small dogs at her feet represent her fidelity to her marriage.[2] Like the mourners, her face is not a faithful or "true" representation, but is instead idealised.[16]

As with the mourners, the effigy's polychrome is lost, but its structure is in reasonable condition. Her hands are modern replacements.[17]

1641 drawing of the Tomb of Margaret of Brabant, destroyed in 1607. Attributed to Jacob van Gerines and Jean de le Mer. Polychromed (painted over) by Rogier van der Weyden[18]

The mourners are made from bronze coated with black lacquer patina and have an average height of 55 cm (22 in). A number are partially damaged, including the man wearing a fur hat who is missing his left hand.[19] The base of each contains roman numerals in white paint added while at the Prinsenhof as marking to indicate the order in which they were to be placed.[20] While the Rijksmuseum orders the ten surviving mourners, alphabetically (A–J), the original arrangement of 24 figures was probably eight on either long-side and two in both short-sides.

Each represents one of Isabella's ancestors, all of whom had died centuries earlier.[12][21][22] Their likenesses were directly copied from the near identical but now lost tombs of Louis II, Count of Flanders (also known as Louis de Mâle; died 1384) and of Joan of Brabant (died 1406).[23] Both of the earlier tombs were destroyed during the 1607 bombardment of Brussels but are known from drawings and written descriptions.[24]

Figures from Margaret of Brabant's tomb, including figures whose headdresses and robes resemble specific figures on Isabelle's tomb.

Of the ten surviving mourners, eight are copies of figures from de Mâle and Brabant's tombs.[16] Two of the figures (A and B) have been identified. Figure A has a cross of Saint Anthony the Great around his neck, and depicts her great-grandfather Albrecht of Bavaria (1336–1404).[25][26] Figure B wears an imperial crown and holds an orb (then a symbol of sovereignty)[27] and represents her great-great-grandfather Louis of Bavaria (died 1384).

The male figures are shown in more active poses, including their legs being shown in mid-step. They hold a number of objects to reflect their high status, including an org or sphere (figure A).[19] The women's clothing reflects fashions popular amongst Burgundian nobles in the early 15th century. Their sleeves and robes are exceptionally long, and most of the women have tightly pinned or shaven hairlines, reflecting the 15th century fashions evident from portraits by Rogier van der Weyden and Petrus Christus. The female weepers are dressed in expensive and luxurious clothing,[19] in particular figure I's houppelande spills and gathers on the floor; an excess indicating her wealth and status.[28] Figure H has a partially shaved head and turban decorated with rows of pearls and a brooch. Two females wear houppelandes – long dresses with a full body and wide sleeve.[28]

The following naming conventions follow the Rijksmuseum's catalogue numbering:

• 
  Figure A: Louis of Bavaria (d. 1384), wearing an imperial crown and holding an orb.[27] Originally placed at front left.
• 
  Figure B: Albrecht of Bavaria (d. 1404) holding a staff. He wears a fur hat and a houppelande with fur trimmings.[26]
• 
  Figure C: Man wearing a fur hat and crown with a large central jewel. An ermine insignia of the Golden Fleece is attached to his collar.[29] His left arm is lost.
• 
  Figure D: Figure wearing a crown. He has a long cloak and fur hat with a full-length hanging fla.[30]
• 
  Figure E: Man wearing a chaperon (an elaborate hood popular in the mid-15th century). He has an elaborately ornamented belt, and his sleeves are unusually wide and flare at their ends. The cross around his neck reflects the Order of St. Anthony.[31]
• 
  Figure F: Woman with crossed hands and a shaved hairline. She is dressed in a turban decorated with vertical rows of pearls, and a large jewel at front.[32]
• 
  Figure G: Mourner with a linen truncated hennin. She has a v-shaped neckline, and wears a rose around her neck.[33]
• 
  Figure H: Woman wearing a veil and v-shaped bourrelet decorated with pearls. The sleeves and hem of the dress are trimmed with fur.[34]
• 
  Figure I: Mourner with braided hair and a hanging veil. She wears a houppelande and a cloak tied with a band on her upper chest.[35]
• 
  Figure J: Woman wearing a bourrelet with lappets.[36] (originally placed at front right)