The Lamentation

About this work

This tiny painting shows Jesus after he’s taken down from the cross. His body lies on a slab of stone. Mary, John and other mourners kneel in grief around him. They’re all dressed in rich blues and reds. The artist used gold leaf to outline the folds in their clothes. Gold also glows behind the figures like a halo, making the scene shine. The colors stay soft even where the gold catches the light. See it in person at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.