Artwork
Lamentation of Christ
Lamentation of Christ is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1524 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. The work depicts three figures gathered around a lifeless form lying on the ground.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work’s religious genre underscores its devotional function, inviting contemplation of Christ’s passion and the compassion of those who mourn him.
The painting portrays the Lamentation of Christ, the moment after the Crucifixion when the dead Jesus is mourned by his followers. Its iconography follows the traditional lamentation composition, presenting the lifeless body of Christ surrounded by grieving figures, while also incorporating elements of the Descent from the Cross. This juxtaposition emphasizes both the physical removal from the cross and the ensuing sorrow, symbolizing human grief, divine sacrifice, and the promise of redemption.
The work’s religious genre underscores its devotional function, inviting contemplation of Christ’s passion and the compassion of those who mourn him.
Technique & Style
Created in 1524, this religious work is an oil painting executed on an oak panel support. The piece measures 46 cm in height and 33 cm in width. Attributed to the workshop of Rogier van der Weyden, the artwork depicts the Lamentation of Christ and the Descent from the Cross. It is currently held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
History & Provenance
The Lamentation of Christ is a panel painting dated 1524, executed in oil on oak panel. According to the Wikidata record, the work is attributed to the workshop of Rogier van der Weyden and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. Ownership is associated with the Kaiser Friedrich Museumsverein (KFMV).
The sources do not provide further details on commission, prior ownership history, or the circumstances of its creation and acquisition.
The work is held in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. It is inventoried as accession number 1692 by the Kaiser Friedrich Museumsverein (KFMV).
The painting was included in the exhibition “Rogier van der Weyden und Werkstatt” held at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin in 2015.
Overview
The work depicts three figures gathered around a lifeless form lying on the ground. One individual kneels, supporting the limp arm that is swathed in a pink fabric, while another stands nearby with clasped hands, dressed in a red garment. The third figure leans forward, his expression somber.
A wooden cross rises in the background beneath a clear blue sky dotted with clouds, lending a quiet, weighty atmosphere to the scene.
Context
The Lamentation of Christ has been a recurrent subject in Western religious art, often serving as a visual meditation on the human response to divine suffering. This rendition follows that tradition, situating the mourners in an open landscape that includes the cross, thereby linking the moment of death to the larger narrative of redemption.
Artist & collection
