Who painted The Entombment?

The Entombment was painted by Lambert Suavius in 1548.

Where can I see The Entombment?

The Entombment is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Entombment?

The Entombment is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Entombment

Lambert Suavius , 1548

The Entombment is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lambert Suavius. It dates from 1548 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Lambert Suavius’s engraving titled *The Entombment* was produced in 1548. Executed on laid paper, the monochrome print measures the artist’s handling of line to depict a somber burial scene. The work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it is displayed among other early modern prints.

Subject & Meaning

Figures are arranged in varied postures: a kneeling attendant, a slumped mourner, a child clutching a shroud, and others who either touch the body or turn away.

The composition presents a group gathered around a lifeless figure laid upon a cloth, evoking the Christian narrative of Christ’s burial. Figures are arranged in varied postures: a kneeling attendant, a slumped mourner, a child clutching a shroud, and others who either touch the body or turn away. A modest architectural backdrop includes a stone wall with carved reliefs and a window bearing a cruciform motif, reinforcing the sacred context.

Technique & Style

Suavius employs fine, closely spaced lines and cross‑hatching to model volume and suggest depth, giving the figures a three‑dimensional presence despite the flat medium. The use of tonal gradations creates a chiaroscuro effect that guides the eye through the scene. A Latin inscription crowns the image, typical of 16th‑century prints that combined visual narrative with textual explanation.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑16th century, the engraving reflects the period’s interest in religious subjects rendered for devotional use. After its production, the print entered various private collections before being acquired by the National Gallery of Art. Its presence in the museum’s holdings provides insight into the dissemination of religious imagery through the print medium during the Reformation era.