3-072-117 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Lamentation of Christ, 1st half of 17th century. The scene of mourning, according to tradition, took place immediately after the deceased Christ had been taken off the cross. Beside the despairing Mary, being consoled by the young Saint John the Evangelist, we see Joseph of Arimathaea, a wealthy Jew and a secret worshipper of Christ, who received approval from Pilate to take over Christ's body and bury it in the rock grave prepared for himself. It supports the upper part of Christ's body laid on a white shroud stretched out on a stone sarcophagus. We see the fair-haired Mary Magdalene leaning over the deceased Christ's feet. In the foreground, there are items connected with the Passion nails, a thorn crown and a blood-stained sponge in a metal bowl. In the background, we can see the Golgotha hill with three empty crosses.