Monument to Valentine Balbiani
by PILON, Germain, Marble
The picture shows two remaining elements of the tomb of Valentine Balbiani, wife of the French Chancellor Ren� de Birague. A bas-relief is carved upon the tomb’s base showing her decomposed corpse (Annothomia) within, and atop the tomb is a statute of the reclining lady shown reading a book, accompanied by her dog.