Christ was laid in the tomb that Joseph of Arimathea had cut from rock for his own use. It is an unusual portrayal of the scene as the body of Christ is not given central placement, but is partially obscured by the figure of Joseph, with his back turned toward the viewer. The effect adds spontaneity and a sense of reality to the image. In addition to Joseph, those present at his burial included Nicodemus, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and St. John the Evangelist.
