The Most Famous Pieta

Michelangelo (1475-1564) was a young man of 21 when he came to Rome from Florence in order to secure commissions. He had already had some commissions as a young master in his hometown of Florence but left there when there was political upheaval and no longer had the patrons to support him and his art. When Michelangelo arrived in Rome, he found favor with a French cardinal who was a representative to the Vatican. This cardinal commissioned Michelangelo to build a statue to decorate his tomb in St. Peters. Michelangelo was only 24 years old when he completed his masterwork of The Pieta[1] bringing incredible humanity and beauty out of the cold marble that he selected from the quarry himself.

This pieta was different from others that had been created before it. The Virgin Mary is depicted as younger than what her age would have been at the time of Jesus’ death. When asked about this Michelangelo explained that Mary’s sinless nature (a common Catholic belief) would have meant that her body and beauty would not fade with time. The look on Mary’s face is not grief, but peace, as if she is accepting this outcome of her dead son in order to fulfill God’s divine plan. Mary’s left arm is outstretched, as if inviting us to join in her sorrow with her.

The body of Christ is lean and muscular in the classical style, but not overly so, thereby blending the classical with the natural. His limp lifeless body is stretched across Mary’s lap as she cradles him one last time. Mary’s torso is covered in the many folds of her dress so that we see only her face, hands and feet. Thereby our attention is drawn to the figure of Christ and her serene face as she looks upon Him.

The marble is highly polished, creating a supernatural glow to the figures. And the pieta is the only sculpture signed by Michelangelo. The story has it that the Pieta was on display in the Basilica, and Michelangelo was listening to admirers. When a visitor attributed the work to another competing artist of the time, this enraged Michelangelo. At a later time, he set about to carve his signature into the sash across Mary’s chest. Inscribed are the words: “Angelus Bonarotus Florentinus Faciebat” or “This was made by Florentine Michelangelo Buonarroti.”[2]