The Pietà
by Michelangelo Buonarroti
After having crucified Jesus, soldiers shared out his garments and threw dice to see who could get his tunic. Once his thirst quenched with a mixture of water and vinegar offered by the soldiers, he said: “It is accomplished!” and he gave up his spirit. After being took down from the cross, his body was wrapped in a shroud and deposited in a tomb in front of which someone rolled a stone to prohibit access.
In this Michelangelo's Pietà, their bodies intimately tied together, are each offered to and received by the other in a singular union, where the woman who conceived the child and the one who is actually holding her son is unique. The ageless composure of Mary contrasted to the wounds of Jesus conveys an insubstantial and timeless aura.
MichelAngelo's name is engraved on the Virgin's clothing.
Glossary
- Jesus
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Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary's son. Known as Joshua in Greek biblical texts and as Yehoshuah by Arameans. It later became Jesus in English.
In the same way, Cristos in Greek, meaning Saviour of Humanity, or Mashiah in Hebrew, became Christ in English. Recognized like a prophet by Islam and Judaism, New Testament Gospels see Jesus Christ as the Saviour of Humanity announced by the prophets.
According to the New Testament, Jesus was condemned to die for blasphemy and was crucified in Golgotha, located on the current territory of Jerusalem. - Michelangelo
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Michelangelo Buonarroti, known as Michelangelo, was born on March 6, 1475 in Caprese, in the south of Florence in Italy. He was a sculptor, painter, architect and poet.
Most of his works are preserved in Rome and Florence. Some of them are considered among the most significant of all times. - Tunic
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“The soldiers, having crucified Jesus, took possession of his clothes, and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier, leaving out the tunic.
The tunic was seamless, woven in one piece throughout; so they said to one another, "We must not tear this; let us toss for it";”
(John 19, 23-24)