WEYDEN, Rogier van der
(b. 1400, Tournai, d. 1464, Bruxelles)

Deposition (detail)

c. 1435
Oil on oak panel
Museo del Prado, Madrid

Mary has sunk to the ground, unconcious, but her head is supported so that it is still turned to us full face and held majestically erect. Surrounded by large areas of the three basic colours, red, blue, and green, the face is both emphasized within the picture as a whole and isolated by the white head-dress that frames sit. Although she is fainiting, the heavy sculptural shapes of the figure are not limp, aand the forehead is frowning.