Burial of Christ (top); Descent from the Cross (bottom)

The top register, Burial of Christ, shows Christ’s body laid on a red tomb-like bier as mourners gather around in somber poses, set against a gold background with a rocky landscape behind. The bottom register, Descent from the Cross, depicts the lifeless figure being lowered from the cross onto the ground, a ladder resting against the cross while onlookers and women react with prayerful gestures. The composition combines elongated, gracefully draped figures and a gilded, Byzantine-influenced surface with a saturated palette of reds, blues, greens, and earth tones, creating a cohesive two-scene narrative typical of Duccio’s early Sienese style.