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Entombment

Maker

(artist)
1523-1589

Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1550-1628

Title

Entombment

Date of Production

1540 - 1591

Medium

pen and brown ink, grey wash on laid paper, with black ink framing lines, laid down

Dimensions

Height: 37.9 cm
Width: 29.6 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.3231

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Notes

In this drawing, the dark cave setting emphasises the drama and tragedy of Christ’s burial. His lifeless, naked body is lowered into a square stone tomb by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. On the left, Saint John the Evangelist weeps behind a seated Virgin Mary, while on the right a kneeling Mary Magdalene caresses Christ’s feet. The mourning company is joined by two angels, and beyond the mouth of the cave loom the three empty crosses on Mount Golgotha.

Provenance

unidentified collector, L.3597; Max de Beer (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b, n.d. (£7.5, as by Palma il Giovane); Witt Bequest 1952

Literature

Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 124

Inscriptions

Watermark: Recto: lower centre: Strasburg lily above "4" above monogram "WR". Verso (backing sheet): upper centre: long kinked serpent with open mouth (no match in Heawood or Briquet).

Collector's mark: Verso (backing sheet): lower left, brown ink: paraph of unidentified collector (L.3597); left lower edge, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

Inscription: Verso (hidden under backing sheet, visible via transmitted light): twice, at lower left and lower right, graphite?: “2”. Verso (backing sheet): upper left corner, on remnant of tape, graphite: “592”; right upper edge, graphite: “8”; right lower edge, graphite: “2. Jacobo Palma 1544 / 1628 / Sketch for picture at / Vienna / Vieux Jeune [former word crossed out] Palme //”; lower left edge, graphite: “J. Palme 729”.

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