Michelangelo, Working for God
Michelangelo is one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance. His most accomplished work is showcased in Rome’s Vatican City, famously in St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel…
The ‘Pietà’ (1499) by Michelangelo (di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni)
This marble statue is considered by many to be the clearest expression of Michelangelo’s genius. It’s a fusion of the Classical style with a much more fluid naturalism. The level of crafting is exceptional as is the atmosphere of peace and serenity it evokes. Mary, far from distraught with grief, is instead shown accepting the sacrifice that she and her dead son have made, consoled by their complete trust in the Resurrection.
Michelangelo explained that the youthful face of the Virgin was based on memories of his own mother, who died when he was five. This, and the intention to show her as eternal and incorruptible, led to the Mary of Pietà appearing far more youthful and serene than most other treatments of this subject.
The technical craft is astonishing, especially when considering the tools and techniques of the time — only hammer and chisel, hand-tools and various grades of grit used to smooth and polish. Yet the carved…
