Artwork Page for The Pietà

Details / Information for The Pietà

The Pietà

c. 1515–17

Marcantonio Raimondi

(Italian, 1470/82–1527/34)

after Raphael

(Italian, 1483–1520)
Culture
Italy, 16th century
Medium
engraving
Credit Line
Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland 1944.22
Catalogue raisonné
Bartsch XIV.40.35 ; Passavant VI.14.14 ; Delaborde 108.20
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

The pietà—a scene of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ—was a traditional subject for sculpture in Northern Europe. Michelangelo’s sculpted Pietà of 1498 brought the composition to Italy and infused it with the idealism of classical sculpture. His contemporary, Raphael, designed this version of the scene two decades later, which was then engraved by Marcantonio Raimondi. It builds upon Michelangelo’s sculpted version but focuses on Mary’s statuesque pose and her intense expression of grief. The dead Christ—still idealized and classical in form—is laid before her rather than held in her lap.
A vertically oriented black-and-white engraving depicts the Virgin Mary standing over the body of Christ. Mary, with a light skin tone, wears a draped robe and a radiating halo, looking down with open palms. Below, Christ lies horizontally on a stone tomb, nude except for a loincloth. To the left rises a rocky cliff with trees, and to the right stands a broken tree trunk against a background of hills and clouds.

The Pietà

c. 1515–17

Marcantonio Raimondi, Raphael

(Italian, 1470/82–1527/34), (Italian, 1483–1520)
Italy, 16th century

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