Explore the Style of this artwork, Lamentation (Gerard David).
While its exact dating is debated, it seems likely that it was completed between 1515 and 1523.
This painting and David's Adoration of the Kings, also in the National Gallery (NG 1079), were two wings from a single altarpiece. The theme of the Lamentation of Christ was common in medieval and Renaissance art, although this treatment, dating back to a subject known as the Anointing of Christ, is unusual for the period. David was influenced by Jan van Eyck's approach to realism. David was innovative in his depiction of religious subjects, which he represented not as icons but rather as approachable individuals. Additionally, David was known for the originality of his treatment of color and light.
Adoration of the Kings Renaissance Jan van Eyck David Christ National Gallery Lamentation of Christ