The Lamentation (study for the Entombment of Christ), c. 1506 - 1507

This pen-and-ink study shows a group of figures clustered around the central, limp figure of Christ resting on the ground. Raphael uses rapid, expressive line work to capture the physical weight of the corpse and the varied emotional reactions of the mourners, including Mary Magdalene and other holy women. The composition focuses on the intense psychological connection between the figures, evidenced by their interlocking gestures and inclined heads.

This work demonstrates Raphael's synthesis of anatomical realism and the Neoplatonic goal of expressing internal spiritual states ('affetti') through physical form. It is an important preparatory stage for the Baglioni Altarpiece, showing the artist's shift toward the dynamic, complex compositions that would define the High Renaissance style.