Description
The moment that followed the Crucifixion of Christ is described rather movingly in this one, where Christ will be laid in his tomb, before his Resurrection. At this very moment, he is among his closest confidants: his mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and lastly John the Evangelist. Through this painting, Rubens wanted to incite faith and empathy in the viewer, lucidly showing the pale skin of Christ, his lifeless body, his open wounds and the pain of those who mourn him.
Due to his distinctive style and the nudity that dominates most of his paintings, they have been graciously awarded the title 'Rubenesque' and even to this day, Rubens remains one of the foremost painters of all time due to the freshness, thoroughness, layered symbolism of his monumental works.
Rubens painted two paintings with the same name: see The Burial of Rubens here