The Entombment of Christ is referred to in all four Gospels (Matthew 27: 57-61; Mark 15: 42-47; Luke 23: 50-55; John 19: 38-42).
The event follows the bearing of Christ's body from the cross and usually is concerned with his placement in the tomb, which was cut out from the rock. As well as Joseph of Arimathaea who provided the tomb, the Virgin Mary, the other Maries (Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany) Saint John and Nicodemus are often also present in depictions of the scene.
In a number of pictorial versions, such as 'The Entombment' by Bouts in the Collection, the tomb is replaced by a sarcophagus in an open setting.
