Pietà (late 1500s): Art, History and Details

Pietà (late 1500s) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

Originating in Germany in the 1300s, the intense moment of lamentation, often referred to as a pietà, has no origin in the Bible. Though it was more widespread in northern Europe, the poignant scene of Mary holding the body of her deceased son expanded into Italy as well. In this painting, Nicodemus supports Christ's upper body, Mary clasps her son's elbow as he lies across her lap, Mary Magdalene kneels at Christ's feet, and John the Apostle covers his face in grief behind her. The crown of thorns upon Christ's head and the blood still visible from his wounds recall the events of the Passion and highlight the sorrow of the Virgin.

Object facts

• Title: Pietà
• Date: late 1500s
• Culture: possibly Italy, Florence, late 16th century, or later
• Type: Painting
• Technique: oil on canvas
• Dimensions: Unframed: 117 x 89 cm (46 1/16 x 35 1/16 in.)
• Collection: P - Italian 16th & 17th Century
• Department: European Painting and Sculpture
• Accession number: 1915.407

Collection credit

Gift of Philip R. McCurdy and Lucia McCurdy McBride

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.