Christ’s lifeless body is lowered into a stone sarcophagus by three figures, his pale torso and limp arm illuminated by a strong light that falls from the left. At Christ’s feet, Joseph of Arimathea bends forward in a striking yellow robe patterned with black spots, his back turned to the viewer as he helps guide the body into the tomb. Behind the Virgin, a woman in white with flowing red hair, her arms extended in a gesture of grief, is Mary Magdalene, and to her left stands Saint John the Evangelist, his hands clasped and his expression sorrowful.

The stone sarcophagus at the bottom of the composition is decorated with carved reliefs, and its lid is partly open to receive Christ’s body. The figures are crowded closely together, their gestures and drapery intertwining, creating a sense of urgency and emotional intensity. Titian uses brilliant colors, especially in the vivid blue of the Virgin’s robe and the striking yellow of Joseph’s garment, to heighten the drama of the scene.

The paint is applied with energetic, visible brushwork, especially in the folds of fabric and the highlights on the skin, giving the surface a textured, almost unfinished quality. The composition leads the viewer’s gaze diagonally from the upper right, where Mary Magdalene gestures, down to the pale body of Christ and the open tomb below. The subject is the burial of Jesus, with Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Saint John the Evangelist all present at the tomb.