Lamentation over the Body of Christ

Christ’s body has been removed from the cross and laid on a tomb. A basket in the foreground contains the crown of thorns and purple robe with which he was mocked on the way to his crucifixion. Mary Magdalene tenderly examines his wounds by the light of an angel’s torch.

This moving image was painted on touchstone, a smooth black stone on which gold or silver could be rubbed to test their purity. The stone’s dark unpainted surface contrasts with the brightly lit figures, enhancing the drama of the scene.