THE LAMENTATION OVER THE DEAD CHRIST ALTARPIECE

TYPOLOGY 

The physical characteristics of the figures making up this altarpieces are wide faces and bulging foreheads with pronounced bone structures just above the eye sockets and well-defined eyebrows under which large eyes gaze out through heavy, half-closed eyelids. Cheekbones are very prominent, except those of the holy women that are slightly plumper. Of special note are the short, wide noses. Generally speaking, their characterisation is somewhat clumsy and the expressions of the figures rather restrained, almost grotesque in some cases.

The figures are rather static and those of Christ and Mary Magdalene are both in rather implausible, forced postures. Another unusual feature is the considerable size of the figures as regards the space they occupy since they seem to be crowded together on the hill on which they stand with the cross in the background. More usual, however, is the attention paid to details of the clothes, especially where they are gathered together in severe folds.