St Olav Altarpiece: The Deposition [inner panel, right wing]

The St Olav altarpiece was originally painted for the Chapel of the Bergenfahrer in the Church of St Marien. The whole complex consisted of three paintings and a carved shrine. When closed the depiction of the three female saints Barbara, Catherine and Dorothy was visible. It then opened out like a book to show the other two paintings depicting St Olav with the two evangelists John and Matthew on the left and the deposition on the right-hand side. When opened a second time a sculptural ensemble was revealed with the Holy Kinship on one side and the Sts Roche, Anthony and Sebastian on the other. These saints were flanked either side by diminutive figures of the apostles in vertical niches.

This panel shows Christ at the centre of the composition, being taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathia and Nicodemus as described in St John’s Gospel. At the left are the three Marys and St John while Mary Magdalene kneels at the right of the cross and the Virgin, beyond grief, observes from behind. The figurative group is set against a gilded background with a punched decorative pattern.

[cda 2021]