Iconography

For Raphael's dome to the Chigi chapel, cf. Shearman 1992

The tomb gisant with the Virgin and Child

This motif appears on several of the tombs in SM del Popolo, and its general source is the Entombment of Christ. cf. Martin 1997 Representations of the Holy Sepulchre had particular resonance in urope against the background of the Crusades, whether as actual buildings or as large niches or chapels in simple country churches. (It is worth noting that the scene offers scope for the portrayal of strong emotion and pathos, and hence stretches the skills and achievements of the sculptors.) Although there are a few Italian examples (e.g. Piedmont), there are none in Rome (catalogue in Martin op.cit., pp.360ff), the whole idea being basically late Gothic in inspiration, so largely French/German/Swiss/Belgian.

A notable difference from the tombs of human beings is the absence of pleurants from all but the mightiest (CHECK) and, indeed, of any emotion on the 15th-16th-century tombs in SM del Popolo of any emotion at all beyond weeping putti. If the "family" and friends of Christ wail, cry and despair, it is not until the 18th century that the tombs in SM del Popolo and elsewhere display likewise.

What about donors? In the Mise au Tombeau, donors are not rare (e.g. at Cahaource, ube, Michel op.cit., pl. 138; Chatillon-sur-Seine, ibid., pl. 139.

Death as a skeleton, or time

A common motif from the 17th century, and popular all over Europe, e.g.:

- Ligier Richier, memorial de Rene de Chalon, towards 1550, Bar-le-Duc, Saint-Pierre, stone. A skeleton death, with strips of flesh hanging off, raises a ?heart? in his left hand;

- Mosaic by Bernini in the3 floor of the Cornaro Chapel, SM della Vittoria, Rome, 1647-52: a skeleton looks upward and prays (what does the other one do??);

- Andreas Schluetter, Monument to David Maennligh, d.1700, NikolaiKirche, berlin: shrouded death siezes a naked putto;

- LB Wieland & Anton Dirr, late 18thC Monument to the Abbots of Salem Abbey, near Lake Constance; alabaster, with skeletons clothed in cope and mitre;

- LF Roubiliac's Tomb of Lady Elizabeth Nightingale d.1760, marble, London, Westminster Abbey: Death in a shroud appears from the doors of the tomb to alert the figures above;

- LB Pigalle, Le marechal de Saxe descends into the tomb; white and coloured marble, Strasbourg, Saint-Thomas, 1753-76; a shrouded Death holds up a timer, and opens the tomb for him;