Pietà facts for kids
The Pietà (say "pee-eh-TAH") is a famous type of Christian art. The word "Pietà" comes from Italian and means "pity" or "compassion". These artworks show the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus Christ. This happens after Jesus has been taken down from the cross.
Most Pietà artworks are sculptures. They usually show only Mary and Jesus. Sometimes, other figures like angels might be included.
Many Pietà artworks are very important. Some have even received a special blessing from the Pope. This includes the famous Pietà in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Other blessed Pietàs are found in places like Marienthal Basilica in France and Kamp-Bornhofen in Germany.
Understanding the Pietà in Art
The Pietà is one of three main ways artists show the Virgin Mary's sadness. The other two are the Mater Dolorosa (meaning "sorrowful mother") and the Stabat Mater (meaning "standing mother"). These other two are usually paintings.
The idea of the Pietà started in Germany around the year 1300. It then became popular in Italy around 1400. Many early examples from Germany and Poland were made of wood. These often showed Jesus's wounds in a very clear way.
The scene of Jesus being taken down from the cross and then mourned is very important. It is part of the Stations of the Cross. It is also one of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin.
Most Pietàs show Mary holding Jesus. But some artworks are different. For example, some show God the Father also helping to hold Jesus. In Spain, Mary sometimes holds up her hands, while Jesus's body lies on the ground.
Michelangelo's Famous Pietàs
One of the most famous Pietàs was made by the Italian artist Michelangelo. This amazing marble sculpture is in Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. Michelangelo's Pietà is different from older ones. It is much larger and made of marble, not wood.
Also, Mary in Michelangelo's sculpture looks very young and calm. In most other Pietàs, Mary looks older and very sad. Michelangelo showed her as youthful for a special reason. He believed that beauty comes from God. Since Mary was close to God, she was shown as beautiful both inside and out.
Michelangelo's Pietà is also special because it is the only artwork he ever signed. He heard people thought another artist had made it. So, he carved his name into Mary's sash. It says: "Michelangelo Buonarroti the Florentine made this."
Michelangelo made another Pietà sculpture later in his life. It is called The Deposition. This one is different because Mary is not the only one holding Jesus's body. Other figures, like Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene, are also helping. This sculpture is in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence. It is also known as the Florentine Pietà.
Later, a Spanish painter named Luis de Morales created many emotional Pietà paintings. You can see examples of his work in famous museums like the Louvre.
See also
- List of statues of Jesus
- Pietà (Michelangelo)
- Replicas of Michelangelo's Pietà
