Pietà with Angels in front of the Cross 1546

Giulio Bonasone made this engraving, ‘Pietà with Angels in front of the Cross,’ in 1546. The image depicts the Virgin Mary with two angels supporting the dead body of Christ, set against the backdrop of the cross. Bonasone was working in Bologna, Italy during the Renaissance, a time when the Catholic Church wielded considerable influence over artistic production. This print reproduces an original design or invention of Michelangelo. That artist's fame and status within the institutions of art at the time are emphasized by Bonasone in the engraving. Printmaking allowed for wider circulation of artistic ideas. So, it should come as no surprise that Bonasone names Michelangelo in the image, to capitalize on the brand recognition of a more famous artist. To fully understand this work, one might consult period documents, such as artists' contracts, guild records, and religious texts. This will allow us to see the role played by the Church in the development of artistic themes and styles and how this impacted the social understanding of art at the time.