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The Pieta

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The Pieta.
The Pieta is one of Michelangelo Buorarroti’s finest masterpieces. This masterwork is found in Vatican City, at St. Peter’s Bascilica in Rome, Italy. French Cardinal Jean de Bilheres, Rome representative, had funded Michelangelo to create this as his funeral monument. It was to be “the most beautiful work of marble in Rome, one that no artist could better” (www.romeinfo.com). This flawless work of art features the body of Jesus placed on the lap of the Virgin Mary after the savior’s crucifixion. The entire process of creating this sculpture only lasted over a year (www.totallyhistory.com). This dimensionally full round sculpture stands 69 inches in length by 78 inches in height. The method of execution is subtractive, as a chisel was used to chip away the marble. The structure of the Pieta is pyramidal with the vertex coinciding of the Virgin’s head, the figure then amplifies down in an increasing manner (www.totallyhistory.com). Through the bright color intensity and positive space, Mary’s face reveals majestic acceptance and serenity. The frailty of Jesus’ body lying across Mary’s arm is an essential portion of this sculpture as it includes the feelings of loss that she was feeling as a mother. This also gives the relationship that is evident between Jesus and his mother in this sculpture a more natural feeling, while incorporating the obvious need, too. The marble used in the creation of this spectacular work has been smoothed to a level that gives a glossy appearance. The distorted proportions of the figures in Pieta serve to illuminate the idea that Michelangelo was not interested in depicting the suffering experienced by Christ, because even under scrutiny the crucifixion marks that should be so readily present are hardly visible. Clearly, Michelangelo certainly did not want this statue to represent death.
Consistent with its meaning

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