Routes:
The Pietà
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Related:
"A Walk Through The Vatican"
The Pietà stands in the Santa Petronilla Chapel, one of the first chapels to the right of the basilica's entrance. This is one of Michelangelo's most meaningful and poetic pieces, not only because of its deeply moving quality, but also because the sculptor was only 22 when he carved the piece in 1498. Of all the work Michelangelo created throughout his career, this is the only one he ever signed (his name is engraved onto the sash that crosses the Virgin Mary's dress). It took Michelangelo two years to sculpt this masterpiece, carved entirely out of an enormous block of marble from the Carrara quarry. The Pietà depicts the Virgin Mary cradling Christ's lifeless body in her arms immediately after he was taken down from the cross. The Virgin's face is lined with an indescribably moving expression, filled with a profound sadness as well as the kind of resignation that can only be borne of deep faith. The sculptural precision of the figures is classic to Michelangelo's work, who placed great importance on anatomical representation and exactitude.
The Pietà always draws a large crowd, but it is worth waiting for a moment of relative calm to contemplate the sculpture. It takes some time to truly appreciate the luminous, sensitive quality of this piece and the masterful skill that went into creating it. The sculpture stands behind a protective glass shield ever since a disturbed individual tried to destroy it with a hammer in 1972.