The Entombment of Christ

The dead Christ is carried to his tomb by three men. Nicodemus holds his shoulders, Joseph of Arimathea his legs, and John the Apostle his arms. Behind them at left, the Virgin Mary is also present, grieving and supported by Mary Magdalene.

The work has a triangular composition that emphasizes the weight of the dead body. Titian also used the direction of light to show the dynamic movement of the body being carried to the right. The contrast of lights and darks concentrates on the body of Christ, the fulcrum of the composition. The viewer's eyes are drawn by the stained light of his legs and shroud and then towards his upper body, which lies in shadow. The shadows anticipate the darkness of the tomb and serve as a symbol for the painting's theme of death.

This oil on canvas painting measures 148 cm × 212 cm (58 in × 83 in) and is located in the
Musée du Louvre, Paris.

(There is a second version of this painting dated 1559.)