Palestrina Pieta 1550

Michelangelo carved this Pietà out of marble, likely in the 1550s, a late work by the master now residing in Florence. Consider the material: marble, prized for its purity and workability, yet demanding of skilled labor. Michelangelo, of course, famously knew how to coax the stone into flesh, drapery, and emotion. Look closely, and you’ll see how the forms emerge from the block, with the figures pressed tightly together, almost like a relief carving. This gives the composition strength, allowing the artist to explore the pathos of the scene without the sculpture feeling fragile. Yet this Pietà is less polished than his earlier works. The marks of the chisel are clearly visible, a testament to the sheer physical effort involved. This rawness invites us to contemplate not just the subject matter – the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of Christ – but the creative process itself, and the intimate relationship between artist, material, and meaning. It transcends the traditional dichotomy of fine art and craft.