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This scene is on one of the front crowning panels of the Maestà.
The apostles, led by John with the palm, are carrying the bier on which the body of the Virgin is laid. At the same time a Jew attempts to desecrate it and is struck by sudden paralysis; this is caused by the movement of Peter who turns round in anger, disturbed by the sacrilegious gesture. The polygonal building of white marble already seen in the Entry into Jerusalem appears again, enclosed by battlemented walls against which the shining gold circles of the haloes stand out.
This painting and the episode depicting Doubting St Thomas on the reverse side are presumably the only pictures in the crowning panels which have retained their original hexagonal form.
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