Artwork
Pietà
Pietà is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Annibale Carracci. It dates from 1603 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Annibale Carracci’s *Pietà with Two Angels* is an oil painting executed on copper around 1603. The work depicts a sorrowful scene of a woman supporting a lifeless male figure, accompanied by two small angels. It is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman in a blue garment cradling a naked, limp man whose head rests on her arm, while two angels hover above, gazing down. The calm expression of the woman and the gentle illumination emphasize themes of mourning and divine consolation.
Technique & Style
Carracci employed oil on copper, allowing for fine detail and luminous color. The painting demonstrates his Baroque handling of chiaroscuro, with soft shadows that model the flesh and drapery, creating a subtle three‑dimensional effect against a dim, fading landscape background.
History & Provenance
If this identification holds, the piece was likely created for Carracci’s own use and later given to the doctor.
A 1607 letter from physician Giulio Mancini records receiving a painting directly from Carracci as payment for medical care, a detail commonly linked to this work. If this identification holds, the piece was likely created for Carracci’s own use and later given to the doctor. The first documented appearance of the painting is in 1659, when it was reproduced in David Teniers the Younger’s *Gallery of Archduke Leopold William* in Brussels, reflecting its inclusion in the Archduke’s collection that later moved to Vienna.
Context
Created near the end of Carracci’s life, the painting reflects his mature Baroque style, integrating classical compositional balance with emotional intensity. The use of copper as a support was a relatively uncommon choice that allowed for a smooth surface and heightened brilliance, aligning with the artist’s interest in refined surface treatment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Annibale Carracci ( kə-RAH-chee, UK also kə-RATCH-ee, Italian: ; November 3, 1560 – July 15, 1609) was an Italian painter and instructor, active in Bologna and later in Rome.
