The Pietà
Michelangelo Buonarroti
A Masterpiece of Sorrow and Grace
Michelangelo's Pietà, housed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, is one of the most iconic sculptures in Western art. Carved from a single block of Carrara marble between 1498 and 1499, it depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. The sculpture is renowned for its exquisite anatomical detail, emotional depth, and the harmonious composition that balances sorrow with divine serenity.
Key Details
- Artist: Michelangelo Buonarroti
- Date: 1498–1499
- Medium: Carrara Marble
- Dimensions: 174 cm × 195 cm (68.5 in × 77 in)
- Location: St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
- Period: High Renaissance