Artwork
Entombment, one of the Seven Sorrows of Mary
Entombment, one of the Seven Sorrows of Mary is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Unknown. It dates from 1501 and is held in the collection of the Groeningemuseum. Entombment is a painting depicting a somber scene from the Seven Sorrows of Mary, executed in oil paint.
About this work
Overview
Entombment is a painting depicting a somber scene from the Seven Sorrows of Mary, executed in oil paint. The composition focuses on a group surrounding a naked, crucifixion-wounded man laid on a cloth, set against a backdrop of a blue sky, trees, and a distant town.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates the Entombment, a pivotal moment in Christian iconography, where Jesus Christ, identifiable by his pierced hands and nearby crown of thorns, is prepared for burial. A woman in a red robe (possibly Mary Magdalene) and Mary (indicated by her halo), holding a golden circle (likely a symbol of divine light or the sun), express grief.
Technique & Style
The work employs chiaroscuro, a strong contrast between light and dark, to evoke emotional depth and highlight key figures and elements, such as the golden circle in Mary’s hand and the wounded body of Christ.
History & Provenance
No specific historical or provenance details are provided for this version of Entombment.
Context
As part of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, this painting reflects a devotional theme common in Christian art, particularly in Catholic traditions, focusing on the sorrowful aspects of the Virgin Mary’s life.
Legacy
The use of chiaroscuro in this Entombment contributes to a broader artistic legacy where contrast of light and shadow is used to convey profound emotional and spiritual themes in religious painting.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Mourning of Christ (Matthew 27:59–61; Mark 15:46–47; Luke 23:53–56; John 19:38–42)
The Lamentation
Crucifixion Altar: lamentation of Christ (outer part: fragment of an Angel, an Apostle and founders)
The Lamentation
Central panel of a Memorial Triptych, formerly called the Gertz Memorial Triptych, with the Lamentation
Descent from the Cross
The Lamentation over the Dead Christ
The Crucifixion
The Lamentation of Christ
The Lamentation
Die Kreuzabnahme
Entombment and the Lamentaion over the dead Christ