Pieta

Country: Italy

Manufactory: Capodimonte

Date of establishment: 1992

Size (cm): 34*40 

Limited Series

Porcelain Story

Everyone is probably familiar with the image of the sculptural composition "Pieta" (from Italian - compassion, sorrow, mourning), the work of the great Florentine Michelangelo Buonarroti, unique in world history. And many, obviously, were lucky enough to see this work, installed to the right of the entrance to the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter, with their own eyes. According to experts, world art does not know a more perfect representation of this scene in sculpture.

And this is all more incredible, because the work was performed by an unknown at that time 24-year-old sculptor, who was vouched for by his patron and famous Roman banker Jacopo Galli, who made a bet that this work would be the best marble sculpture in all of Rome. He won the bet. This happened in 1499.

The work was done by order of the cardinal, who was the French ambassador to the holy papal throne, as a tombstone for his future burial. However, when everyone saw the finished sculpture from a single huge piece of Carrara marble (which Michelangelo personally selected when he went to the quarry with the workers), there was no limit to general admiration. And it was soon decided that the work should take its rightful place in the main cathedral of the Vatican.

I have visited this cathedral many times. And at the invitation of Pope John Paul II, and on excursions, and at one time even living with children in an old Vatican hotel near the cathedral. And every time, stopping in front of this marvelous marble work, in which the figures of Jesus and the Virgin are executed in full size, conveying the stunning tragedy of the biblical scene, I was amazed at the skill of the brilliant creator. Every detail of his work is as perfect as anything created by human hands can be perfect.

In 1972, the sculpture was damaged by an Australian geologist of Hungarian origin, who imagined himself to be a newly-minted messiah. After the restoration, this work (by the way, the only work on which Michelangelo put the author's signature) is protected by bulletproof glass.

The porcelain composition presented to your attention was purchased by me in the famous Vatican boutique, located just a hundred meters from the entrance to the Cathedral of St. Peter. The masters of the famous Italian manufactory managed, in my opinion, to recreate the picture of the final work of the great sculptor on the work that immortalized his immortal name. The porcelain composition deserves a long and careful consideration of many details that seem to convey the tension of this creative process. Trust me, you can't take your eyes off it.