The Holy Women at the Tomb or The Three Marys at the Tomb

An architectural tomb acts as a vertical stage for three women in heavy drapery: a tall figure in black stands with a contemplative hand to her temple, while two kneel beside a gilded basin, one with red-tinged sleeves and the other veiled in gray. The composition creates a shallow, triangular grouping set against a dark interior with a bright opening to the right, where a pale figure appears in the light beyond. Bouguereau renders with polished, Academic realism, using a restrained palette of blacks, reds, grays, and warm stone, delivering smooth flesh tones and finely detailed drapery that contribute to a serene devotional mood.