Among the most celebrated artistic treasures of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Michelangelo’s Pietà holds a special place. This extraordinary marble sculpture, created in 1499, is a work of incomparable beauty and emotional depth, capable of conveying a sense of both sorrow and serenity.
A Masterpiece of Youth
Michelangelo Buonarroti sculpted the Pietà when he was just twenty-four years old, commissioned by Cardinal Jean de Bilhères, the French ambassador to the Vatican. The young artist chose a single block of Carrara marble to bring to life a scene of poignant delicacy: the Virgin Mary holding the lifeless body of Christ. The Madonna, though youthful and serene, expresses deep yet restrained sorrow, while Christ’s body appears smooth and harmonious, achieving a perfect balance between realism and idealization.
The Only Signed Work
The Pietà is the only work Michelangelo ever signed. The signature is found on the sash crossing Mary’s chest, where it reads: “MICHAEL.A[N]GELVS BONAROTVS FLORENT[INVS] FACIEBAT” (Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florentine, made this). Legend has it that the artist decided to carve his name after overhearing some visitors attribute the work to another sculptor, wishing to assert his authorship of the masterpiece.
The Vandalism Attack and Statue’s Protection
In 1972, the Pietà was severely damaged by an act of vandalism committed by Laszlo Toth, a mentally disturbed man who repeatedly struck the statue with a hammer, damaging the Virgin’s face and hands. After a meticulous restoration, the sculpture was placed behind bulletproof glass to protect it from any further attacks or accidental damage.
A Symbol of Faith and Art
Today, the Pietà continues to attract millions of visitors from around the world, captivated by its beauty and its message of piety and redemption. Michelangelo’s mastery in rendering anatomical details, the drapery of the garments, and the expressions of the figures has made this sculpture an icon of Renaissance art and a universal symbol of suffering and maternal love.
Anyone visiting St. Peter’s Basilica cannot help but stop in front of the Pietà, becoming immersed in its timeless emotion and extraordinary artistic perfection.
