The painting is heavily influenced by Correggio's Lamentation () in Parma, which has a similar triple of Christ's body resting on the lap of the Virgin who is supported by a female figure, with the Magdalene and another woman accompanying them. It may also be influenced by the Lamentation over the Dead Christ by Luca Signorelli (), formerly in Siena but now in Glasgow. The Rijksmuseum holds a preparatory chalk drawing by Carracci of the dead Christ.
