Artwork
The Entombment
The Entombment is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master S. It dates from 1502 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Entombment, an engraving on laid paper executed in 1502 by the anonymous Master S, presents a somber scene of a corpse being lowered into a tomb‑like cavity. The composition is centered on the pallid, shrouded figure, surrounded by mourners whose bent postures convey deep sorrow. The work is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the moment of burial, focusing on the lifeless body being placed in a dark, cave‑like tomb. The surrounding figures, rendered with downcast gazes and inclined bodies, embody grief and reverence, emphasizing the ritual of final interment and the emotional weight of loss within a religious or funerary context.
Technique & Style
Created through the traditional engraving process, Master S incised fine lines into a metal plate, which were then inked and transferred onto laid paper. The interplay of line work generates delicate gradations of light and shadow, modeling the flesh of the deceased and the drapery of the mourners, while the texture of the paper enhances the overall tonal depth.
History & Provenance
The engraving dates to the early sixteenth century, a period when printmaking was expanding as a means of disseminating religious imagery. Though the artist’s identity remains unknown, the work has been catalogued and preserved by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, where it remains part of the museum’s print and drawing collection.
Artist & collection
