Triptych with the Lamentation of Christ

Joos van Cleve depicted this scene of mourning over the dead Christ around 1524, one of the most emotionally powerful subjects in Christian art that invited the viewer to share in the grief of Christ's followers. The painting is in the Städel Museum. Joos van Cleve was a leading Antwerp painter who synthesized Flemish panel painting tradition with Italian Renaissance influence, making him one of the most sought-after Netherlandish masters of his generation.

The multi-panel format follows the altarpiece tradition, providing an expanded devotional program with individual panels working together to create a unified theological and visual statement.