The Descent from the Cross, Burial, and Resurrection (Primary Title)
Scenes from the Passion of Christ (Former Title)
Unidentified (Artist)
The scenes in this wall painting from right to left depict Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus removing the body of Christ from the cross and wrapping it in a shroud (right); the same two men laying the body in the tomb (center top); the sleeping Roman soldiers guarding the tomb (center bottom); and the Resurrection (upper left) directly above a scene of hell. These images formed part of a larger cycle
of biblical scenes lining interior walls of a church sanctuary.
The cross held by the resurrected Christ resembles Ethiopian hand crosses in having a rectangular tabot (symbol of the tablets of the Ten Commandments) at the base of the shaft. Representations of the tabot can be seen at the bottom of each hand cross in the gallery.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
