Ligier Richier (c. 1500 – 1567) was a French sculptor active in Saint-Mihiel.
Richier primarily worked in the churches of his native Saint-Mihiel. From 1530, he was under the protection of Duke Antoine of Lorraine, for whom he did important work. Ligier Richier did work in wood, but preferred pale, soft limestone with its fine grain, and few veins, extracted at Saint Mihiel and Sorcy. He experimented with refined polishing techniques, with which he was able to give the stone a marble-like appearance. [1] One of his finest works is the "Groupe de la Passion", consisting of 13 life-size figures made in the local stone of the Meuse region. It can be found in the Church of St. Étienne. [2]. It is also known as the "Pâmoison de la Vierge" (the Virgin fainting, supported by St John). [3] Other works attributed to him are in the Church of St. Pierre, Bar-le-Duc, and in the Louvre.
Possibly his most renowned work is "Le Transi de René de Chalon" in l'église Saint-Étienne of Bar-le-Duc. Made in Sorcy stone and standing at 1m74cm, it depicts the corpse of Rene de Chalon, Prince of Orange (who died on the 15th of July 1544) in the form of a flayed corpse clutching its own heart.[4].
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