Artwork
Entombment with Three Birds
Entombment with Three Birds is a print by Andrea Mantegna. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Entombment with Three Birds is a print by Andrea Mantegna, created using engraving techniques. It depicts a scene of mourning and burial.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows the burial of Jesus Christ within a cave, surrounded by mourners. Three birds perch outside on a tree branch, while a fence with crosses runs along the background, adding symbolic depth to the scene.
Technique & Style
Mantegna employed chiaroscuro, using shading to create strong contrasts between light and dark. This technique adds depth and drama to the scene, with the faces of the figures lit while the cave is filled with shadows.
History & Provenance
The print's composition was replicated in a 1523 maiolica panel, now part of the Salting Bequest. Another impression of the print is held in the Ionides Bequest. Initially attributed to Giovanni Antonio da Brescia, it is now attributed to Mantegna.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andrea Mantegna (UK: , US: ; Italian: ; c. 1431 – September 13, 1506) was an Italian Renaissance painter, a student of Roman archaeology, and the son-in-law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna…
