The Entombment of Christ

The Entombment of Christ is a 1513–1516 oil-on-canvas painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Lorenzo Lotto, now in the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo. It originally formed the central predella panel (one of three) to the artist's Martinengo Altarpiece at the church of Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano. History The Entombment of Christ was commissioned by Alessandro Martinengo Colleoni for the Dominicans in the church of Santo Stefano. The other predella paintings were and , with The Entombment of Christ placed between them. When the church and its monastery were destroyed to built the in 1561, the altarpiece was moved into the new church of Santi Bartolomeo e Stefano, but all three predellas were removed and moved elsewhere. The three predella panels were stolen in 1650, returned, and then moved to the church's sacristy. In 1749, however, the three panels were split up and sold to different buyers, ending their shared history. Finally, in 193, The Entombment was sold to the Accademia Carrara, where it is today. Description In The Entombment, Lotto depicts a dramatic scene with details of devotion. Christ, removed from his cross, is placed into a tomb where, in the foreground, the instruments of his martyrdom are displayed. Placed in shadow, however, he does not occupy the center of the scene.