On February 2, 1523, Federico II wrote to his uncle Alfonso I d'Este to free Titian from any artistic assignments in Ferrara.

Nicodemus holds his shoulders, Joseph of Arimathea his legs, and John the Apostle his arms.

The viewer's eyes are drawn by the stained light of his legs and shroud and then towards his upper body, which lies in shadow.

The shadows anticipate the darkness of the tomb and serve as a symbol for the painting's theme of death.

Despite the tragedy it depicts, The Entombment demonstrates the spontaneity and fluidity of classic bas-reliefs.