- Pietà
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/pee'ay tah", pyay tah", pee ay"teuh, pyay"-/, n. (sometimes l.c.) Fine Arts.a representation of the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of the dead Christ, usually shown held on her lap.
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Depiction of the Virgin Mary supporting the body of the dead Christ.The theme grew out of that of the Lamentation, the moment between the Descent from the Cross and the Entombment. It first appeared in Germany in the early 14th century. It enjoyed greater popularity in northern Europe than in Italy through the 15th century, yet the supreme representation is Michelangelo's sculpture (1499) in St. Peter's Basilica. The Pietà was widely represented in both painting and sculpture. Michelangelo's conception of Mary bearing Jesus' body on her knees was standard until the 16th century, when artists began to place Jesus at Mary's feet. Though most religious art declined after the 17th century, the Pietà retained its popularity through the 19th century.
Pietà, marble sculpture by Michelangelo, 1499; in St. Peter's ...Scala/Art Resource, New York* * *
as a theme in Christian art, depiction of the Virgin Mary supporting the body of the dead Christ. Some representations of the Pietà include John the Apostle, Mary Magdalene, and sometimes other figures on either side of the Virgin; but the great majority show only Mary and her Son. The theme, which has no literary source but grew out of the theme of the lamentation over Christ's body, first appeared in the early 14th century in Germany. It soon spread to France and enjoyed great popularity in northern Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. Although the Pietà remained mostly a Franco-German theme, its supreme representation is that completed by Michelangelo in 1499 and housed in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Influenced by the northern style, Michelangelo draped the figure of Christ across Mary's lap. Through this pyramidal design and the details of his figures, Michelangelo created a scene that displayed at once agony, solemnity, and heroic resignation.The Pietà was widely represented in both painting and sculpture, being one of the most poignant visual expressions of current popular concern with the emotional aspects of the lives of Christ and the Virgin.The format of the Virgin bearing the body of Christ on her knees was standard until the 16th century, when, influenced by the Renaissance concern with logic and proportions, artists usually depicted Christ lying at the Virgin's feet, with only his head propped against her knees. This form was adopted by Italian Baroque art and was passed on to Spain, Flanders, and Holland.Most religious art suffered a decline after the 17th century, but, because of its special emotional appeal, the Pietà continued to be a vital theme through the 19th century.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
