Altar Frontal with the Lamentation

About this artwork

A decorative textile suspended along the altar’s entire front, an altar frontal was often embellished with gold and silver threads, as seen here. This rare example depicts the lamentation of Christ, a common subject in Christian art in which the body of Christ is mourned after its removal from the cross. This version is highly acclaimed for its emotional intensity. Christ’s body is arranged in the shape of the cross, his shoulder rests on the Virgin’s knees, Saint John the Evangelist cradles his...