Michelangelo’s Pieta

            While in Rome, we had the opportunity to witness Michelangelo’s Pieta first hand.  Which is really the only way to see such a work of art.  This sculpture was finished in 1499, and is located in the massive St. Peter’s Basilica.  The scene of a Pieta is the Mary cradling Christ’s body after the crucifixion.  In this particular Pieta, sculpted out of marble by Michelangelo, it is easy to see that Mary is still young and youthful looking.  There are many points to this sculpture that show why Michelangelo was probably the most talented sculptors; like the way Mary’s clothes are draped. The drapery of Mary’s clothing, falls in such a natural way, it looks as though it could really be cloth.  What I find to be most interesting though, is Mary depicted as very beautiful and youthful, which seems to represent the significance she holds in Christianity, as the mother of the Messiah.  The detail that is entailed into this work of art is incredible; including the way that Christ’s lifeless body is sculpted.  Michelangelo captures the natural way that one could imagine Christ looked after he was crucified.  He looks as though he was starved, and his limbs are very limp.  Although no longer alive, the way that Jesus’ head is turned towards his mother’s body, it is easy to feel the love, and sadness that was felt.  In my opinion, this sculpture is an incredible feat, including so much detail, and capturing so much emotion.

Michelangelo's Pieta

St. Peter's Basillica

Wiki Commons

Raphael

            Raphael was a different man in the way of the artists.  Vasari recognized that Raphael was not only a phenomenal painter, but a good natured person as well.  Reading Vasari on Raphael has been interesting because he states that Raphael’s had these attributes; “grace, study, beauty, modesty, and fine manners.”  These things he learned growing up in a loving environment with a loving father.  Raphael was a very studious artist, studying the works of Masaccio, Leonardo, and Michelangelo.  The things he saw in these artists’ works, “made him apply himself with great intensity.”  This quote appreciates the work it takes to become one of the four greatest artists of the Renaissance.  He was born with talent, but he had to study to make himself perfect what he wanted to do in life, which was art in different forms.  This is the interesting part of art, that Vasari really makes known, that people are not just blessed with the ability to create things like the fresco of the School of Athens; but that even the best artists of the Renaissance had to stick to studying as well.  Painting all throughout Italy was great for Raphael, who eventually was commissioned to do some works in the Vatican City, although he was not in the running to paint the Sistine Chapel, his works do not go unrecognized.  My favorite fresco that we saw in Rome is no doubt the School of Athens, which I have always just been attracted to.  It is a beautiful piece of art, and history showing many different scenes and people in one, simply a symbol of the genius of art that Vasari speaks about.

School of  Athens

Raphael

Vatican Museum

Photo: Cesilee Mazza