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The Passion of Christ |
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The Pietá |
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| The word Pietá (pity) will usually bring Michelangelo's sculpture in St. Peter's Rome to mind. This image, with the dead Christ lying on the lap of the Virgin, is what is generally understood by Pieta. It counterpoints the familiar image of the Virgin holding the child Jesus. | |
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| The Pietá is particularly familiar in sculpture, but let's have a look at some examples in painting. | |
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| The central image is of the dead Christ supported by Mary, but other figures such as Mary Magdelene or St John may appear, as here. | |
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| Generally, art labelled 'Pietá' shows the Virgin Mary supporting Christ, but not always: In this painting by Bellini he is supported by angels, and in the sculpture by Baccio Bandinelli it is Joseph of Arimathea. | |
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