Pietà with Virgin and St. John 1485 - 1527

Giovanni di Niccolò Mansueti’s “Pietà with Virgin and St. John” (1485-1527), now in the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts the sorrowful scene of the Virgin Mary cradling the body of Christ, with St. John the Apostle standing by. The artwork is a poignant example of Renaissance religious painting, characterized by detailed figures, rich colors, and a serene, yet deeply moving composition. The piece invites viewers to contemplate the sacrifice of Christ and the profound grief of his mother. The background landscape, rendered in shades of green, blue, and brown, provides a contemplative backdrop for the central figures.