A Short History of the Middle Ages Fourth Edition

Plate 8.5: Raphael, Entombment of Christ (1507). Not so much about Christ’s entombment as it is about
carrying Christ, this central altarpiece panel should be read from right to left. First comes Christ’s mother,
the Virgin, her face white as a sheet, swooning into the arms of the three Maries (Holy Women mentioned in
the Gospels). To their left are two men straining to bear Christ to his tomb, which is indicated by a cave-like
opening. Mary Magdalene, one of the Maries, is there as well, lifting Christ’s head and hand.

At Milan, Duke Ludovico il Moro (r.1494–1499) gave Leonardo da Vinci (1452–