Artwork
The Entombment
The Entombment is an oil painting by Simon Vouet. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Entombment is a 1635 oil painting by French artist Simon Vouet, created after his return to France from Italy and appointment as Premier peintre du Roi. The work is part of the Fitzwilliam Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a somber scene of Jesus Christ's entombment, with a group of mourners gathered around his cloth-covered body on a stone slab, conveying a mood of mourning.
Technique & Style
Vouet employs chiaroscuro, contrasting strong light and dark to create depth and drama, adapting Italian Baroque techniques for a French audience.
History & Provenance
Commissioned during Vouet's tenure as leading royal artist in Paris, the painting reflects his blend of Italian training with French courtly tastes.
Context
Created for French patrons, the work exemplifies Vouet's role in introducing Baroque styles to France, tailored to the preferences of the royal court under Louis XIII.
Legacy
As a key example of Vouet's French Baroque, The Entombment influences the development of religious art in 17th-century France, balancing Italianate drama with French restraint.
Artist & collection
Artist
Simon Vouet (French pronunciation: ; 9 January 1590 – 30 June 1649) was a French painter who studied and rose to prominence in Italy before being summoned by Louis XIII to serve as Premier peintre du Roi in France.
The entombment
The Entombment
The entombment
Lamentation with angels
The Dead Christ in the Tomb with Two Angels
Der tote Christus im Grabe, von zwei trauernden Engeln gestützt
Vision of Saint Francis
The Lamentation (Christ at the Tomb)
Entombment
Dead Christ with Lamenting Angels
Allegory of the burdens of time
Adoration of the Shepherds