Alabaster panel depicting the Entombment. English, 15th century.

The dead Christ, bearded and wearing the torse, and naked but for a loincloth is represented lying on the tomb across the width of the panel. Unusually, the holes from the nails in his hands and feet are shown. The bearded Nicodemus, wearing a hat with a high crown, stands behind the tomb in the top left corner of the panel; he looks down into Christ's face as he wraps the body in a shroud. Joseph of Arimathaea, also bearded, and wearing a mitre-shaped hat, holds the shroud at Christ's feet. The veiled figure of the Virgin Mary stands between the two men, leaning over the body of Christ. Behind her, to left and right of the cross, stand two female figures, Mary Cleophas and Mary Salome. The left hand of St. John the Evangelist is visible behind Joseph of Arimathaea, holding a palm. The kneeling figure of Mary Magdalene is shown on the left of the panel in front of the tomb, wiping ointment from Christ's right hand with her long hair. Her ointment box stands next to her in the middle of the panel. The top right corner of the panel, including the head and shoulders of St. John the Evangelist, is missing. A break runs from the top centre of the panel down to the right to the head of Joseph of Arimathaea. The top of the panel and the bottom right corner are chipped.

Only the slightest traces of paint remain in the crevices of the panel. There are two lead-plugged holes in the back of the panel. As with a number of panels, the alabaster seems to have been sawn from each side so that there is a slight ridge where the two saw cuts met running vertically roughly up the middle of the panel. The bottom has been cut away.

Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA

Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in Paris. On loan from him since 1924. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946.

The dead Christ, bearded and wearing the torse and naked except for a loincloth, is represented lying on the tomb across the width of the panel. Unusually, the holes from the nails in his hands and feet are shown. Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathaea, the Virgin Mary, Mary Cleophas and Mary Salome are also shown. The kneeling figure of Mary Magdalene is shown on the left of the panel in front of the tomb, wiping ointment from Christ's right hand with her long hair. The top right corner of the panel is missing including the head and shoulders of St John the Evangelist.

A.55-1946