Pieta - by Michalangelo

In the reception area in my office in Madurai, I have this Pieta Photograph of size 3 feet by five feet on the wall. I got the picture from Rome and it is now adorning the wall. Lots of visitors in general and christians in particular who visit my office could stand very near to the Pieta and admire the talent of Michalangelo.

In 1498 Michelangelo, only 22 years old, agrees to sculpt within a year, of a "Pietà" (pity) in marble destined to be placed in the Basilica of San Pietro.

On a piece of marble personally chosen in the pits of Carrara, Michelangelo represents the isolated aspects of the Virgin Mary holding in her arms the body of the Christ right after it was taken down from the Cross. 1.74cm high, the "Pietà" of Michelangelo presents strong particularities in the anatomy and also in the finishes of the drapes, with translucent effects of accentuated by the way in which the light seemed to caress the marble superficies.

It is said that Michelangelo, not used to firm the own works, after he had casually heard some visitors from Lombardy say that the "Pietà" was the work of Gobbo di Milano, a leading sculptor at that time, went to the Basilica of San Pietro on the night itself, and engraved on the work the writing: "Angelus Bonarotus Florentinus Faciebat". (you can see this signature, on the Pieta that is in my office).