Michelangelo's Pietà: History, Symbolism, and Survival

The Pietà, created by Michelangelo in 1499 when he was only 23, is the iconic sculpture featuring the Virgin Mary holding the dead Christ. Commissioned by Cardinal Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas, the French Ambassador to Rome, Michelangelo used high-quality Carrara marble for this work. Interestingly, it’s the only sculpture he signed; he added his name on a ribbon draped across Mary's chest after feeling unrecognized. Over the years, it has suffered damage, including the loss of four fingers from Mary's left hand in the 1700s, which Giuseppe Lirioni restored in 1736. A geologist attacked it on May 21, 1972, causing significant damage, leading to a ten-month restoration. Now securely displayed behind bulletproof glass in St. Peter's Basilica, Michelangelo intended for Mary and Christ to appear the same age, representing eternal beauty and virginity.