The work most closely resembles Anthony Van Dyck’s The Lamentation from 1634, which had been in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich since 1836. Given that the composition is reversed, it is probable that Delacroix based his copy on an engraving. Delacroix, considered the foremost exponent of the Romanticism in France during the 19th century, drew inspiration from such past masters as Paolo Veronese, a leader of the 16th-century Venetian School, and 17th-century Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens. While his choice of subjects varied widely, his use of expressive color and vigorous brushstroke conveys the highly emotive qualities that define his painting style.