The whole picture is planned along an oblique line which starts from Mary of Clopas who is standing with her arms raised and then slopes down along other figures (it passes from the bowed head of the Magdalene to Nicodemus who is completely bent down holding the feet of the dead body) and ends up in the right hand of Jesus.
The figures rest as if they were a sculptural group on a tombstone which thanks to the light contrasts typical of the painter, seems to protrude from the canvas producing a three dimensional illusion.
The attention is drawn to the body of Christ who seems to be suspended despite his weight; a bright light that is also reflected from the white shroud which partially already wraps he who will be buried in a short while, illuminates the body.

As Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus carry the body of Christ to the tomb, so other Josephs and Nicodemus are today invited to carry him, alive amongst men.