Pieta, Hand-Painted Medal, “The Pity,” Michelangelo

     The Pieta is a famous motif in Christian art that represents the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of her son, Jesus. The image of the Pieta evokes the deep sadness that the Blessed Mother experienced from Christ’s suffering. The Pieta and the extreme grief it displays reminds us of the magnitude of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the Cross. 

             The Pieta is a famous 15th Century Renaissance marble sculpture created by Michelangelo Buonarroti in Rome at age 25.  It sits in the first Chapel of Saint Peter’s Basilica near the Holy Door adjacent to Saint Sebastian’s Altar. It shows the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s lamentation of her son, Jesus whom she is shown holding close to her heart after his death. The Pieta was commissioned by French Cardinal Jean de Bilheres in 1498. It has been damaged many times, most notably in 1972 when a lunatic, Hungarian–born Australian, Laszlo Toth, attacked the Pieta with a geologist’s hammer while proclaiming, “I am Jesus Christ and I have risen from the dead.” Michelangelo sculpted Mary with youthful incorrupt beauty, rationalizing that her chaste life kept her young.   When Michelangelo overheard someone saying the Pieta was made by another artist, he carved his name on the sash of Mary’s garments,  leaving little doubt that it was his creation. In 1964 the Pieta was loaned by Pope John XXIII, (“JP23”) to the New York World’s Fair. Francis Cardinal Spellman requested it and millions lined up to see the sculpture in the borough of Queens, New York. Although the Pieta has been damaged it has always been meticulously restored. Mary’s eyelid was once broken and it took over 20 tries to restore it perfectly! © 2020

      Your order includes our vibrant one-of-a-kind hand-painted saint medal, a silver necklace, keychain clasp, or Sterling Silver necklace (your choice!), the story of the Pieta Medal in greeting card format, a felt pouch for safekeeping, unique prayer cards from Rome, Italy, an extra envelope for easy mailing or gifting and a money back guarantee, “No Questions Asked.”  Rob and SaintsforSinners.com stand by their work product. The stories are sometimes embellished, paraphrased, or updated, but overall, they retain the theme presented at canonization or veneration.

A 3mm, 18" unisex Sterling Silver chain may be purchased for an additional cost. Each Sterling Silver chain will be 18" in length unless otherwise specified