History of the work

Carved in the middle of the 12th century, the Cousolre baptismal font, made of dark grey limestone, was originally part of the church of Saint-Martin de Cousolre. Today, the church is located in the north of France and is part of the diocese of Cambrai.

In the 7th century, Cousolre was the home of Walbert and Bertille, members of the Neustrian aristocracy. Canonised as saints of the Catholic Church, Saint Walbert and Saint Bertille are said to have built the first church in Cousolre and had two daughters, Saint Waudru and Saint Aldegonde. Aldegonde founded a mixed cloister in Maubeuge, and the Benedictine abbess then became the collator of the parish on which the church of Saint-Martin depended.

The baptismal fonts, known as "Saint Walbert's stone", were replaced in 1525, placed in a garden adjoining the church and used as a rainwater reservoir. Before being rediscovered by Jennepin, they were relegated to the back of a courtyard and partly covered in manure. The tank was then placed in the school garden and donated by Jennepin to the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille in 1882.