The Lamentation over the Dead Christ

The main biblical figures in this exquisite painting — the Virgin Mary and her dead son— are copied from two famous drawings by Michelangelo. Such was the artist’s reputation that painters, including the young Alessandro Allori here, reused his designs to create their own compositions. Allori added four figures around the central group, including Saint John who is painted over the landscape and thus appears darker.

Unusually, Allori painted on a metal plaque made of tin and lead, most often used for dining plates and armour, instead of on wood, canvas or copper.