Where can I see The Virgin Swooning and the Three Maries at the Tomb of Christ?

The Virgin Swooning and the Three Maries at the Tomb of Christ is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is The Virgin Swooning and the Three Maries at the Tomb of Christ?

The Virgin Swooning and the Three Maries at the Tomb of Christ is associated with Italo Byzantine.

Artwork

The Virgin Swooning and the Three Maries at the Tomb of Christ

The Virgin Swooning and the Three Maries at the Tomb of Christ is an unspecified painting by the Italo Byzantine artist Puccio di Simone. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1350 by the Italian painter Puccio di Simone, this tempera work depicts a biblical scene set in a garden. Five figures are arranged before a draped tomb, under a luminous sky. The composition is now part of the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a woman in a vivid red garment, is traditionally identified as the Virgin Mary in a moment of profound grief. She is accompanied by three other women in blue robes, representing the three Marys who, according to the Gospel accounts, visited Christ’s tomb. A kneeling figure in black, likely a disciple or attendant, adds a note of solemn reverence.

Technique & Style

Puccio employs the early Gothic sensibility of flat spatial arrangement, yet the use of light and shadow hints at emerging chiaroscuro techniques. The white shroud covering the tomb is patterned with green diamond motifs, emphasizing its sacred function. Halos above each figure mark their holy status, while the golden sky and stylized foliage create a timeless, otherworldly atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The painting has been documented in the Statens Museum for Kunst’s holdings since the early 20th century, though its earlier ownership remains unclear. Its attribution to Puccio di Simone rests on stylistic comparison with other mid‑fourteenth‑century works from the Tuscan region, confirming its place within the artist’s devotional oeuvre.