The Lamentation

Emilian 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

This sculpture is a rectangular relief depicting a group of people surrounding a central man who appears to be seated or reclining. The central man has a prominent beard and his torso is bare, while the surrounding people are clothed in long robes. Some have long hair or beards. They look at each other or towards the man on the ground. One of the people on the left seems to offer support or assistance to the central man. The people in the sculpture are captured in various poses, with a sense of movement expressed through their draped garments and varied positions. In the upper left part of the relief, there are three crosses, one with a ladder leaning against it, along with several smaller people in the background. A detailed tree is also visible. In the distance on the right, there are architectural elements resembling a town or city with domed structures. The relief is made of dark brown material that reflects the light, and the entire scene is framed within a rectangular border.