Short answers, pulled from the story.
Germain Pilon was a French Renaissance sculptor born in Paris around 1525, who died on the 3rd of February 1590. He is considered, alongside Jean Goujon, one of the most important sculptors of the French Renaissance, and served as the favorite sculptor of Catherine de' Medici.
Germain Pilon is best known for creating tombs for the House of Valois, including the Tomb of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici at the Abbey Church of Saint Denis Basilica, constructed between 1561 and 1573. He also created the Three Graces monument holding the heart of Henry II, carved from a single block of marble.
Many of Germain Pilon's surviving works are held at the Louvre in Paris, including the Three Graces, the Tomb of Valentina Balbiani, the Virgin of Pity, and the Descent from the Cross. The Three Fates are at the Hôtel de Cluny in Paris, and his Valois tomb work remains at the Abbey Church of Saint Denis Basilica.
Germain Pilon's work shows the influence of the School of Fontainebleau, Michelangelo, and Italian Mannerism. His figures combine realism with theatrical emotion, and he began his career with a strong Italian foundation before developing his distinctly expressive personal style.
Germain Pilon trained with his father, Andre Pilon. Documents show the two worked together on religious statues and tomb effigies. He later also worked with Pierre Bontemps and, in royal commissions, alongside Francesco Primaticcio and Domenico del Barbieri.
The bronze urn held by the Three Graces once contained the heart of Henry II of France. It was destroyed during the French Revolution and has since been replicated. The marble Three Graces sculpture itself survives at the Louvre.