Description
The Entombment at Villa I Tatti belongs to the same group of small narrative panels from the life of Christ whose surviving companions are now divided among Munich, Boston, New York and London. The scene shows Christ's body being laid into a red porphyry sarcophagus, surrounded by the Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea and other mourners. Christ's body forms a strong diagonal at the center.
Its pallor stands out against the saturated colors of the garments and sarcophagus, making it the visual focus. The surrounding figures bend toward him and direct their attention to the corpse. The Virgin appears to faint and is supported by one of the women. Saint John bends forward and kisses Christ's wounded hand, an intimate gesture that turns the sacred event into a deeply human experience of loss.
