THE LAMENTATION OVER THE DEAD CHRIST ALTARPIECE

ICONOGRAPHY 

The scene of the Lamentation Over the Dead Christ stands at the foot of the cross. St. John, stands in the background behind Mary, trying to comfort her by placing a hand on her shoulder while putting his other hand on the cheek of Christ. The Holy Virgin is seated and can hardly hold the corpse of Christ on her lap. The dead body seems to be sliding off her lap, despite all the effort His mother is making to try and secure it by holding onto His left elbow. Mary Magdalene kneels in front of her, leaning in such a forced position, she seems to be almost horizontal.  She holds the forearm of her Master in her hands and brings it closer to her lips to kiss it.

Behind her, stands one of the holy women, lifting a cloth to her mouth with one hand and holding a jar of essence in the other. The last of these women also holds a similar jar as she kneels in front of Mary Magdalene on the other side of the composition. On a small hillock in the background appear Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea: one facing towards the front and the other with his back to us.