pieta Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is a Pietà in Christian art?
A Pietà depicts the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Christ after his crucifixion, death, and removal from the cross, but before he was placed in the tomb. It symbolizes ‘pity’ and is commonly found in sculpture.
date
1498/99-1500
How is the Pietà connected to the Seven Sorrows of Mary?
-one of the key events of the virgin’s life, known as the seven sorrows of Mary
how is the process seen
-like bacchus there are rasp and chisel marks seen on the plinth
-extreme undercutting, especially of folds of drapery creates extreme shadow
MATERIAL
single block of white carrara marble, chosen for its purity and transported by sea to rome
-translucency of marble mimics translucency of skin
-white shows divinity and purity
patron, function, patron aims
PATRON
-french cardinal jean bilhères de lagraulas
FUNCTION
-commissioned for his funery chapel near saint peter’s basillica
-dead body hence could represent the patron
-died before this commission was complete
AIMS
-wanted this work to srpass all in beauty, allowing michelangelo to execute such an ambitious project
how did michaelangelo’s studies effect anatomical realism
-from observations and disections of corposes in Santa spirito crypt
composition
-pyramidal compositionm, apex at mary’s head, base widens through her drapery to the rock of gologotha
-disproporitionate: mary’s body larger than christ for structural reasons
-low tensile strength shown in extended foot
depiction of Mary
YOUTH AND BEAUTY
-Idealised, youthful
-neoplatonism: beauty represents spirituality
-prioritises spiritual beauty over physical reality: would have been 51
EXPRESSION
-one of acceptance
-cragg rock face contrasts smooth forms of body
TACTICALITY
-emphasis on tactility, her fingers almost touch the stigmata of christ
REALISM
-intricate carving of drapery and anatomical features (especially on her hand)
DRAPERY
-voluminous drapery enhanced pyramidal mass, acts as a support
DISPROPORIIONATE
-considerably larger than christ to act as a support
Depiction of christ
DIVINITY
-virgin’s hand doesn’t come into contact with his flash, emphasising his sacredness
ANATOMY
-attention to anatomy: musculature, veins nerves
-hand specifically shows detailed attention to tendons and veins
-abdomen of christ is relaxed, shows michelangelo’s study of corpses
SEMI IDEALISED
-is not depicted as suffering- is peaceful
-draws on classical tradition by idealising nude form whilst also incorporating precise anatomical details learnt from his dissections
COMPOSITION
-slumps horizontally
-limp right arm
how is this work semi idealised
-is not depicted as suffering- is peaceful
-draws on classical tradition by idealising nude form whilst also incorporating precise anatomical details learnt from his dissections
how is attention to christ’s anatomy emphasised
-attention to anatomy: musculature, veins nerves
-hand specifically shows detailed attention to tendons and veins
-abdomen of christ is relaxed, shows michelangelo’s study of corpses
How is christ’s divinity emphasised
-mary’s hand does not touch his stigmata, cloth etween her fingers and his body
what does she sit on
*The Madonna is seated on the rock (of Golgotha) in which the cross was fixed.
How does Michelangelo’s Pietà differ from those in France and Germany?
-Christ is serene and sleeping empahsising beauty over suffering
-france and germany vesions were stiff and outward extending
when and why did michelangelo sign this work
-signed when he heard others attribute the work to another artist
-signed michelangelo facet: michelangelo was making (one night)
-the use of facebat (was making) refers to medici court discussion of art’s perpetual incompletion
what elements of the high renaissance are observed
-idealised beauty
-harmony
-anatomical precision
INFLUENCE OF ANOTHER ARTIST?
influence of massacio through the folds
we know michelangelo went to branacci chapel to study massacio’s works
how is low tensile strength shown
-pyramidal block like composition
-The extended foot is attached to a tree-trunk, highlighting the low-tensile strength of the sculpture,
What is notable about the marble’s finish?
The Pietà is Michelangelo’s most highly polished sculpture, enhancing its lifelike and divine aura.
What practical purpose does the drapery serve in the sculpture?
It supports the figures structurally while showcasing Michelangelo’s technical mastery in carving folds and recesses.
How did this commission impact Michelangelo’s career?
It established his reputation in Rome, providing a major breakthrough after earlier setbacks.
how does Neo-Platonic philosophy influence the Pietà?
It aligns with the belief that earthly beauty reflects divine beauty, presenting Christ and Mary as idealized and serene figures.
Why is the Pietà significant in the Vatican’s history?
It has been displayed in prominent locations, including the New York World’s Fair (1964) and St. Peter’s Basilica.
