Epitaphios. Near East, early 17th century. Christ classically depicted after the descent from the cross, reclining before the burial, His head in His Mother's arms, surrounded by Saint Nicodim, Saint John the Theologian, Saint Joseph of Arimathea holding the ladder used to lower His body and, in the second row, saintly women and the Myrophores with, in the background, Golgotha with the crosses of Jesus and the two robbers. Above, four angels and in the top two corners, the sun and moon. All around, the Holy Saturday tropary is embroidered in Greek. Dated 7116 (1608) May 8 lower left. Signed lower right in Greek: moust... (Moustapha ?) and in Arabic. Silk embroidered with gold and silk threads. 41.5 x 56 cm [RUSSIAN ART]