Who painted Lamentation?

Lamentation was painted by Circle of Jacopo Tintoretto in 1580s.

Where can I see Lamentation?

Lamentation is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Lamentation?

Lamentation is associated with Mannerism.

Lamentation by Circle of Jacopo Tintoretto (1580s)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts the Lamentation of Christ, showing the dead Jesus mourned after the Crucifixion.

The painting depicts the Lamentation of Christ, showing the dead Jesus mourned after the Crucifixion. Its religious genre and title identify the scene as a moment of sorrow and devotion, emphasizing themes of grief, compassion, and redemption that are central to Christian iconography. The work’s focus on Jesus Christ as the subject underscores its devotional intent, inviting viewers to deeply reflect on the Passion and the human suffering of Christ.

Technique & Style

Created circa 1580, this religious painting depicts the Lamentation of Christ using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 65 centimeters in height by 65.7 centimeters in width. While one internal record attributes the piece to an unknown artist, other documentation identifies the creator as Marco Tintoretto.

The composition focuses on the figure of Jesus Christ within a devotional context. The physical object has survived from the late sixteenth century to the present, entering the National Gallery of Art collection through a bequest in 1960 following its ownership by William R. and Lillian Guyer Timken. Earlier records indicate the painting was exhibited in New York in 1928, suggesting it was in displayable condition at that time.

History & Provenance

The Lamentation, an oil on canvas depicting the Lamentation of Christ, is dated to 1580 and attributed to Marco Tintoretto. Its provenance begins with Benedict & Co. in Berlin, from whom it was likely acquired by William R. Timken of New York by 1928; the painting was lent by the Timkens to an exhibition at the Reinhardt Galleries that year. Upon William’s death, it passed to his widow, Lillian Guyer Timken, who bequeathed the work to the National Gallery of Art in 1960. No information about the original commission or early creation circumstances is provided in the sources.

Lamentation has been held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., since it entered the collection as a bequest from Lillian Guyer Timken in 1960. It had previously belonged to her husband, William R. Timken, of New York, who is thought to have acquired it from Benedict & Co. in Berlin by 1928. The painting's documented exhibition history includes a 1928 loan by the Timkens to an exhibition held at the Reinhardt Galleries in New York.

Context

Scholarly attention to the Lamentation has been documented since at least 1929, when A. Venturi cited the work in a history of Italian art, noting its religious genre and 16th‑century date. Contemporary cataloguing identifies the painting as a work by Marco Tintoretto, placing it within the Venetian school and linking it to the National Gallery of Art’s collection. Its provenance traces from the Benedict & Co. gallery in Berlin through the Timken family to bequest by Lillian Guyer Timken in 1960, with a 1928 loan to the Reinhardt Galleries exhibition.

These details situate the piece at the intersection of religious art history, early modern Italian painting, and the reception of Venetian masters in American collections.

Overview

This oil painting, titled Lamentation, depicts a solemn gathering around the deceased figure of Jesus Christ. The composition conveys a profound sense of sorrow and quiet contemplation, focusing on the immediate aftermath of Christ's death. The artist captures a moment of collective grief, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of loss and devotion.