Pietà by Michelangelo, North Aisle, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Pietà by Michelangelo, North Aisle, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Pietà by Michelangelo, North Aisle, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City


In the first chapel of the north aisle is Michelangelo's Pietà. The Pietà (1498–1499) is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. The statue was commissioned for the French cardinal Jean de Billheres, who was a representative in Rome. The sculpture, in Carrara marble, was made for the cardinal's funeral monument, but was moved to its current location, the first chapel on the right as one enters the basilica, in the 18th century. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed.

This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. The theme is of Northern origin, popular by that time in France but not yet in Italy. Michelangelo's interpretation of the Pietà is unique to the precedents. It is an important work as it balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism.




http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/monumenti/basilica-di-s-pietro/interno.paginate.1.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0_(Michelangelo)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter's_Basilica