Michelangelo The Pieta

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The Pieta was created between 1497 and 1500 by Michelangelo Buonarroti. The sculpture depicts Mary with Jesus in her arms, sitting on the rock of Golgotha after the crucifixion. It is at present kept in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It is made of marble, and measures at 174 cm by 195 cm. The Pieta is the only piece of work that he signed. When he exhibited the work, Michelangelo heard somebody say that it was the work of a different sculptor, Cristoforo Solari. He returned that evening, and furiously engraved into Mary’s sash, “Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florentine, made this” (The Divine Michelangelo). He regretted his arrogance, and swore to never again sign a work (Michelangelo Sculptures). Michelangelo sculpted the Pieta during the Renaissance which in turn contributed to the movement. It balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism. This figure depicted feelings that were true to life. The features he used were faint and the wounds of Jesus hands were made to appear minor and had understated details. Therefore drawing more attention towards the feeling that Mary…show more content…
If we put emphasis on Mary's face, there is a mix of sentiments in her look. The artist cultivates Mary by giving her resilient reactions. Mary's face looks sickened and agonized because of her son's death, and there is also a sense of astonishment, and wonderment that anyone would murder her son. The variety that Michelangelo made in forming the Pieta were unique to his time, in that he presented both Mary and Jesus serene expressions, illustrating the attention to the triumph of the punishment as an alternative to the sorrow of Christ’s death. His choice to lessen the gashes of Christ’s body and to give Mary a young face supplemented to the focus on Christ’s victory over loss and pain. Michelangelo effectively created a Pieta that presented a meaning of hopefulness for
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