I must correct a discrepancy: the artwork you have inquired about is not “The Holy Family with St. Elizabeth” by Peter Paul Rubens. The image presented here is rather “The Entombment” or “The Deposition,” also by Peter Paul Rubens, a seminal work from the Baroque period. This painting was created using oil on panel, and it embodies the dynamism and emotional intensity that are characteristic of Baroque art. The work is a religious painting, with dimensions of 114 x 80 cm, and it was completed around 1612.
The artwork depicts the sorrowful scene of Christ’s entombment, an event that has often been captured by artists throughout the history of Christian art. We see the lifeless body of Jesus being supported by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Mary Magdalene is present as well, her grief displayed vividly as she wipes tears from her eyes, while Saint John gently supports the Virgin Mary, who looks up to the heavens. Rubens’s mastery of painting is evident in the strong use of chiaroscuro, the rich color palette, and the poignant expressions of the figures. The composition directs the viewer’s attention toward the central figure of Christ, whose pallid body contrasts sharply with the surrounding darkness, illuminating the tragedy of the moment. Each character in the artwork conveys a deep sense of mourning and despair, making the scene powerfully evocative. The dynamic postures and twisting forms of the subjects exemplify the Baroque era’s fascination with movement and the portrayal of intense human emotions.
