The Lamentation c. 1470 - 1480

"The Lamentation" is an anonymous oil painting from the late 15th century, currently housed at the Städel Museum. The painting depicts a scene of intense grief as the Virgin Mary mourns over the body of her son, Jesus, who is lying dead in the foreground. Mary Magdalene, holding a vial of ointment, looks on in despair, while a distant cityscape symbolizes the world's indifference to Christ's suffering. The artist's meticulous attention to detail in rendering the figures' emotions and the landscape creates a poignant depiction of a pivotal moment in Christian iconography.