Lamentation of Christ - 16th century Antwerp school

The Lamentation of Christ with Saint Jean, Virgin and Mary Magdalene
1st half of 16th century Antwerp school
Oil on oak panel h. 38 cm, w. 26 cm
Ebonized wood frame in flemish baroque style
Dimensions: h .66 cm, w. 54 cm

The Lamentation of Christ is an episode of the Passion of Christ that takes place after the Descent from the Cross and before his Entombment.
In our tightly framed painting of the Virgin, Saint John and Mary Magdalene weeping for Christ half-stretched out on a shroud, while behind the group the ladder leaning on the cross indicates that the body of Jesus has just been taken down from the cross.

Saint John, moved, kneeling, supports the inert body of Christ that the Virgin is delicately placing on the ground. Marie leans over and puts her hand on her son's chest as a gesture of protection. Jesus, with his eyes closed, emaciated, his hands pierced, his side open, has lost his crown of thorns, the traces of which persist on his forehead.

Mary Magdalene kneeling is positioned in the background to make way for the Virgin to embrace her son for the last time. With her hands clasped in prayer, her eyes downcast, the young woman is plunged into deep sadness.

The composition opens onto a green and hilly landscape in the background, a winding path leading to the fortified castle on which soldiers and mercenaries are busy with a standard bearer.

The theme of the life of Christ and his passion has inspired many Antwerp painters. In the first half of the sixteenth century, artists still influenced by the Gothic art of the previous century, tried to bring a little humanity and vivacity to the figures inspired by the Italian Renaissance.

In our work, this is reflected in a slightly pronounced musculature of Christ, the clothes with more rounded and fluid folds.