grandeur of conception
power of feeling
both unite to produce an air of epic tragedy
actions of figures are natural and appropriate
grief and horror of those closest to Christ
physical strain and effort of those lowering the dead body
night scene [evening?]
but the compact group around cross is illumined by a supernatural light
contrasting colours
livid, bloodless colour of Christ's body
vivid red of St. John's mantle
Roger de Piles [Conversations sur la connaissance de la peinture, 1677, p. 135]: "the painter has entered so fully into the expression of his subject that the sight of this work has the power to touch a hardened soul and to cause it to experience the sufferings endured by Jesus Christ in order to redeem it.