ALTARPIECE OF THE HOLY BURIAL

ICONOGRAPHY 

The tale of Passion told by the altarpieces of the convent in Segovia ends with the representation of the Holy Burial.

To the foreground, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus tenderly hold the dead body of Christ wrapped in a shroud and show it to observers.

Behind them is the kneeling figure of the profoundly-afflicted Virgin Mary with a gesture of raising her hand to her chest consistent with that of St. John, who is seen touching her left arm in an attempt to console her. The scenario is completed with one of the Holy Women to the right of this scenario who is seen partially covering her face with a veil.

Finally, to the background, we'll once again see the Holy Woman who is carrying a jar of spices - she was the same Holy Woman present in the scenario of the Road to Calvary who was accompanying Mary Magdalene. We know she is Mary Magdalene because she is the only female figure with an uncovered head.

The images of the archangel St. Michael and St. Denis decorate the wings on the altarpiece.