The Deposition

This alabaster panel shows the Deposition of Christ from the cross. The standing figure with the purse is Joseph of Arimathea, and he is accompanied by the Virgin (whose head has been lost), Nicodemus standing on the ladder and other figures. The male figure in front of the ladder would originally have been removing the nail from Christ's feet with a pair of pliers - both the pliers and his hands have been lost.

The panel comes from a set of five panels showing scenes from Christ's Passion, which would originally have formed an altarpiece. This was a particularly suitable subject for an altarpiece, illustrating Christ's sacrifice which formed the basis for the Eucharist celebrated during Mass at an altar. As a result, this subject was popular - about 30 alabaster panels showing the Deposition survive, of which we know that six were originally part of Passion altarpieces.