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Michelangelo's Pietà

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The Pietà by Michelangelo is a marble sculpture in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Michelangelo made it in 1498 - 99. This famous work of art depicts the dead body of Jesus in the arms of his mother Mary, after his crucifixion.

The figures are quite out of proportion, owing to the difficulty of depicting a fully-grown man cradled full-length in a woman's lap. If Christ were to be human scale, the Virgin, standing, would be sixteen feet tall. However, owing to Michelangelo's skill, much of the Virgin's size is concealed in her drapery, and the figures look quite natural. The marks of the crucifixion are limited to very small nail marks and an indication of the wound in Jesus' side. The imprints of the nails in the feet do not "go through" to the underside of the foot. A few days after being placed in St. Peter's, Michelangelo overheard someone remark that the work was done by Christoforo Solari. In a rage, Michelangelo carved "MICHEL ANGELUS BONAROTUS FLORENT FACIBAT" on the sash running across Mary's breast. He later regretted his outburst of pride and swore to never sign another work of his hands.

Michelangelo's Pietà was damaged on May 21, 1972 by Lazlo Toth, who hammered the sculpture, while shouting "I am Jesus Christ."

After the attack, the work was painstakingly restored and returned to its place in St. Peter's, just to the right of the entrance, between the Holy door and the altar of Saint Sebastian. The chapel of the Pietà is the location where the Pope vests before liturgical celebrations in the basilica. In the space just before it, Napoleon was crowned.


Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45