Who painted Christ laid in the Sepulchre?

Christ laid in the Sepulchre was painted by Charles Howard Hodges.

Where can I see Christ laid in the Sepulchre?

Christ laid in the Sepulchre is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Christ laid in the Sepulchre

Christ laid in the Sepulchre is a print by Charles Howard Hodges. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This paper print, titled *Christ Laid in the Sepulchre*, presents a somber tableau of the dead Christ surrounded by mourners. Executed by Charles Howard Hodges in 1850, the image follows a composition originally devised by the Mannerist painter Parmigianino, translating a painted scene into the graphic medium of print.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is the lifeless body of Christ, laid upon a stone slab and covered with a simple shroud. Around him stand a small group of figures—some leaning forward in intimate grief, others keeping a respectful distance—emphasizing the collective sorrow of the burial moment.

Technique & Style

Hodges employed a fine line engraving on paper, achieving a chiaroscuro effect through dense cross‑hatching that renders the dark, cloud‑filled sky and the muted landscape. The handling of light and shadow reflects the late‑eighteenth‑ to early‑nineteenth‑century printmaking aesthetic, with careful attention to the drapery’s folds and the figures’ gestures.

History & Provenance

The composition traces its origins to Parmigianino’s early sixteenth‑century design, which circulated widely among artists. Hodges, a Dutch‑born engraver active in England, produced this particular version in 1850, signing it simply “Hodges.” The work entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it is catalogued among other religious prints of the period.

Context

During the nineteenth century, reproductions of Renaissance compositions were popular for both devotional use and academic study. Hodges’ print reflects this trend, offering a portable, affordable version of a well‑known religious scene that could be displayed in private homes or studied by artists.