Artwork
Entombment
Entombment is a paint painting by the Italo Byzantine artist Master of San Martino alla Palma. It dates from 1330 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1330, the panel titled Entombment is attributed to the Master of San Martino alla Palma, a Florentine painter linked to the workshop of Bernardo Daddi. Executed in tempera on panel, the work exemplifies the Italo‑Byzantine or Maniera Greca aesthetic that prevailed in Italy before the advent of Giotto’s naturalistic approach. It is presently housed in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays the moment after Christ’s crucifixion, when his body is laid upon a cloth‑covered slab. A group of mourners, identified by their halos and solemn gestures, surround the figure, expressing collective grief. The scene functions as a visual meditation on death and redemption, a theme frequently rendered in medieval devotional art.
Technique & Style
Rendered in muted earth tones of brown and green, the painting relies on the flat, stylized modeling characteristic of Byzantine influence. Figures are outlined with precise contours, and their drapery is depicted in linear folds rather than volumetric shading. The restrained palette and iconic halos reinforce the work’s spiritual tenor while adhering to the conventions of the Maniera Greca.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin during the early twentieth century, though its earlier ownership remains undocumented. Its attribution to the Master of San Martino alla Palma rests on stylistic comparison with other works linked to the same Florentine circle, particularly those associated with Bernardo Daddi.
Context
Entombment reflects this period’s devotional priorities, offering a didactic image for contemplation rather than a realistic portrayal of space or anatomy.
During the early fourteenth century, Italian painting was dominated by the Italo‑Byzantine style, which emphasized symbolic representation over naturalistic observation. Entombment reflects this period’s devotional priorities, offering a didactic image for contemplation rather than a realistic portrayal of space or anatomy. The piece thus illustrates the transitional moment before the emergence of Giotto’s more lifelike approach.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Master of San Martino alla Palma
The Master of San Martino alla Palma (formerly called the Amico di Daddi) was a Florentine painter active during the first third of the fourteenth century.
