The Virgin Mary Swooning over the Dead Body of Christ at the Foot of the Cross

Pierre-Etienne Monnot

National Gallery of Art

In the bottom left corner of this rectangular relief sculpture, a bearded, bare-chested, muscular man with wavy hair lies lifeless, supported by a person with shoulder-length hair who is dressed in flowing garments. That person looks up over their shoulder at a man behind them, who has a long beard and appears to hold a pair of pliers. His brows are furrowed. On the right, a seated woman's head falls back, cradled by another woman with braided hair who stands behind her. The seated woman is dressed in flowing, draped cloth that also covers her head, and her right hand reaches out to grab the wrist of the limp man. Other people in the background engage in a variety of tasks, carrying ladders, hanging cloth, or holding a large urn. The entire sculpture is crafted from a smooth white material.