Detail of The Pieta by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) with the signature of Michelangelo (MICHAEL ANGELUS BONAROTUS FLORENT FACIEBAT)
Vatican installed new lighting system for The Pieta, Michelangelo's marble masterpiece in St Peter's basilica, Vatican.
October 2018
The sculpture has been illuminated using new LED lights with warm white tones. The new lighting system will allow the world to admire the 'full beauty of the faith of Michelangelo'. The Renaissance sculpture, created by a young Michelangelo between 1497 and 1499, depicts the body of Jesus cradled by his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. Carved in Carrara marble, La Pieta can be found in the first chapel to the right of the entrance to St Peter's. It is the only sculpture Michelangelo ever signed. The work was assigned to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who was then 23 years old, for the purposes of decorating the tomb of french Cardinal Jean de Bilheres-Lagraulas.
- Carrara Marble
- 174 × 195 × 69 cm