Michelangelo: La PietaBackground Info

• Michelangelo Buonarroti: 1475-1564• Born in Caprese, a small town near

Florence. Died in Rome.• Apprenticed Ghirlandaio in 1488, and

lived and studied with the Medici’s• Worked mainly in Rome and Florence• Painter, sculptor, architect and poet,

but he thought of himself usually as a sculptor

• Many patrons paid an abundant amount of money for him to paint or sculpt for them

Artistic Style and Medium

Entirely Made of marble5’9”He is able to portray the marble as

flesh and forms folds in the drapery of Mary

His signature is on the sash of Mary

Portrayal

La Pieta, 1498-1500 in Rome for St. Peter’s Basilica

Pity/CompassionPortrays the Virgin Mary holding

Jesus after his deathRepresents eternal youth

Historical SignificanceLa Pieta is depicted many times

throughout history but Michelangelo’s is the most famous

This gave Michelangelo his name and helped him become famous

The first depiction of this event where Mary is youthful and calm instead of saddened and old

An optimistic feeling towards HeavenCombines classical beauty with naturalism

during the time of the Renaissance

Include any other interesting facts to enhance your presentationHe ended up starting 4 different

projects for the Virgin Mary holding Jesus, but he only completed La Pieta.

Michelangelo often yells at his sculptures when he is making them. He usually makes his own tools too.

He studied the human body like Da Vinci, so this helps him portray people in his sculptures.

Bibliography"IV. MICHELANGELO (1475-1564)." N.p., n.d. Web.

19 Sept. 2012. <http://www.learn.columbia.edu/arthumanities/pdfs/arthum_michel_syllabus.pdf>.

"Michelangelo (1475-1564)." BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2012.

"The Pieta By Michelangelo." Statue. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2012.

"Michelangelo's Pieta." SmartHistory. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2012.

"Chapel of the Pieta." St. Peter's Basilica. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2012. <http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Altars/Pieta/Pieta.htm>.