The Entombment 1501

The Entombment (c.1500-1501) is one of just three surviving panel paintings by the celebrated Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475-1564). Crucially, the painting is unfinished, and large sections of the panel remain untouched. ⬜️🎨 The incomplete painting depicts the moment that Christ is carried to his tomb for burial, following his Crucifixion. Michelangelo places the deceased Christ at the centre of the composition. The figure is idealised; his expression is peaceful, with gently closed eyes. His body shows no signs of his recent ordeal. As with the other figures in the painting, the body of Christ is sculpturally modelled. Michelangelo worked from live models, allowing him to capture accurate anatomical detail. This is especially visible in the muscles of Christ’s legs. The Entombment is believed to have been commissioned as a funerary altarpiece dedicated to Giovanni da Viterbo, an Italian bishop who had died in 1496. Michelangelo expertly structured the composition to compliment the interior space of Viterbo’s chapel. However, the artist returned the payment that he had received for the commission when he failed to complete the altarpiece. As an unfinished work, this painting offers a unique insight into Michelangelo’s working methods. Here, he uses oil paint rather than egg tempera. This allowed for a greater depth of colour. Zoom in to see the rich reds of the folded drapery worn by the figure on the left side of Christ. The artist has blended wet paints directly on the panel, before adding touches of white. There is also evidence of scraping on the rocks which occupy the upper right of the painting’s background. Despite its state of incompletion, The Entombment displays Michelangelo’s skill for the dynamic compositions, naturalism, and handling of light which characterise the High Renaissance. The painting is displayed in London’s National Gallery. Do you agree with the decision to display an unfinished work of art? 💬👇 Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham #