Michelangelo and Raphael

Question 1

Pieta

Answer 1

Michelangelo from 1500 in Vatican City

• The title refers to Mary mourning the death of her son
• Commissioned by the French cardinal, Jean Bilheres de Lagraulas
• Housed in St. Peter’s Bascilica
• The sculpture is made out of Carrara marble
• Designed to be on or near the floor so the viewer could have a clear view of Christ’s face

Question 2

David

Answer 2

Michelangelo from 1501-04 in Florence

• Depicts David before his fight with Goliath considering the slingshot and rock in his hands
• The statue was originally supposed to be placed on top of the Florence Cathedral but was instead placed in a public square right outside of Palazzo Vecchio
• The statue was moved to Galleria dell’Accademia in 1873 and was replaced by a replica
• Agostino di Duccio was the original sculptor of the statue but he never finished, and eventually, Michelangelo took over
• In 1991, a disturbed artist named Pierro Cannata damaged the left foot of David with a hammer

Question 3

Marriage of the Virgin

Answer 3

Raphael from 1504 in Citta de Castello

• Made for an altar of the Virgin’s wedding ring within the Franciscan Church of San Francesco
• Currently in the Brera Gallery in Milan
• The commission was originally sent to Raphael’s master, Pietro Perugino, but Raphael was the one to complete it
• The commissioner of the painting was Filippo degli Albezzini

Question 4

Small Cowper Madonna

Answer 4

Raphael from 1505 in Urbino

• Currently in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC
• The church in the background closely resembles the church of San Bernardino
• The painting is oil on panel