"Pieta" by Michelangelo
"Pieta" is a sculpture of Mary holding the crucified Jesus in her arms. Michelangelo made this sculpture in 1498- 1499 A.D. (Honour & Fleming, 2002). This sculpture is made of marble; it is 68.5 inches high; and it is housed at St. Peter's in Rome (Honour & Fleming, 2002). The French cardinal, Jean Bilhere de Lagraulas ordered this work of art from Michelangelo for the church of St. Petronella (Honour & Fleming, 2002). Most likely, the sculpture was intended to mark the place where the cardinal was to be buried (Honour & Fleming, 2002). Michelangelo travelled in November 1497 A.D. to his hometown in Tuscany, Italy, on a horse paid for on a monetary advance on the contract for work from the cardinal, so that Michelangelo could choose the marble from a quarry (Honour & Fleming, 2002). Michelangelo made an inscription on the Virgin Mary's sash which reads: "Michelangelus Buonarrotus Fiorentinus Faciebat", i.e., "Michelangelo Buonarroti the Florentine made this" (Honour & Fleming, 2002). A famous writer and artist of the Renaissance, Vasari, wrote that this inscription on Mary's sash is the only instance where Michelangelo signed his work (Honour & Fleming, 2002).
The style which Michelangelo used for this work of art, "Pieta", is elegance, adherence to true physical appearance of the human form, sculptural beauty, illustration of drapery of the clothing; a dramatic position of the crucified Jesus laying on Mary's lap; and yet a holy serenity of contemplative sadness in Mary's facial expression (Honour & Fleming, 2002). Michelangelo was recognized as one of the most outstanding artists of the Italitan Renaissance (Honour & Fleming, 2002).
References:
Aston, M. (2003). Panorama of the Renaissance. London: Thames & Hudson, Ltd.
Honour, H. & Fleming, J. (2002). A World History of Art. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
Hughes, A. (1999). Michelangelo. London: Phaidon Press Limited.
Kleiner, F., Mamiya, C., & Tansey, R. (2001). Gardner's Art Through The Ages. Vol.II. N.Y.: Harcourt College Publishers.
Wirtz, Rolf C. (2000). Art and Architecture: Florence. Oldenburg: Konemann.
