Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and the Virgin Mary place Christ in the tomb offered by the first. They are watched by Mary Magdalene and Saint John the Evangelist, which is a slight variation on the New Testament story (Matthew 28, 57-61; Mark 15, 42-47; Luke 23, 50-55; John 19, 38-42).

Another work on the same subject in the Prado (P00440), was commissioned from Titian by Felipe II (1556-1598) in 1557. The differences in quality between the two versions, which is the result of a different degree of direct participation by the artist, can be seen in the figure of Christ, in the scorcio of the Virgin, and in the greater detail visible in the earlier work.

This work was owned by Antonio Pérez, Secretary of Felipe II (1556-1598). It entered the Royal Collection in 1585 and became a part of the Prado Museum collection in 1839.