Moretto da Brescia (Italian, Brescia ca. 1498–1554 Brescia) – The Entombment Metropolitan Museum: part 2

The composition centers around a somber scene of descent and mourning. A lifeless figure is being lowered, supported by several individuals who display varying degrees of grief and solemnity. The deceaseds body is rendered with meticulous attention to anatomical detail, emphasizing the pallor of skin and the slackness of musculature indicative of death. He is draped partially in a cloth that clings to his form, highlighting its contours.
To the left, a man clad in regal attire – a white turban and an elaborate fur-lined robe – appears to be overseeing the proceedings with a stoic expression. His posture suggests authority or perhaps a detached observation of the event unfolding. Beside him, a figure in red robes leans forward, actively participating in the lowering process, their face etched with sorrow.
A woman, presumably the grieving mother, is positioned directly adjacent to the deceased’s head. Her face is contorted in anguish, her eyes brimming with tears, and her hands clasped tightly as if attempting to hold onto what is lost. Another figure, dressed in a rich golden robe, assists in supporting the body from the right side, their expression more subdued than that of the woman.
The background is dominated by a rocky outcrop, partially obscuring a distant landscape where a cross stands silhouetted against a stormy sky. This backdrop contributes to the overall atmosphere of desolation and loss. The use of light and shadow is significant; it highlights the figures’ emotional states and directs the viewers attention towards the central figure and his mourners.
The inscription at the bottom, partially obscured but legible, hints at themes of obedience and a journey toward death, reinforcing the narrative of sacrifice and suffering. The arrangement of the figures creates a pyramidal structure, lending stability to the composition while simultaneously emphasizing the downward movement associated with burial. The color palette is muted, dominated by earth tones and dark hues, which further enhances the painting’s melancholic mood.