Entombment c. 16th century

Curator: Welcome. We are looking at Luca Cambiaso's "Entombment," housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s raw, isn't it? So immediate. The grief is palpable, even in the quick, almost frantic lines. Curator: Cambiaso, active in 16th-century Genoa, was quite interested in depicting emotional scenes, and of course, religious subjects were especially ripe for communicating feelings. Editor: The way they're all huddled together—it feels claustrophobic. Like the grief itself is a physical weight, pressing down. Curator: It's a wonderful example of the artist's expressive use of line, almost like he is using line to create form. Cambiaso’s Entombment speaks to themes of power, faith, and death in the Renaissance era. Editor: For me, it feels profoundly human. The raw pain transcends any specific time or place. Curator: Well said. It is thought-provoking to consider the piece and its relation to the social issues of Cambiaso’s time, as well as its more personal emotional connection.