Artwork
Pietà
Pietà is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco de Mura. It dates from 1727 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Pietà is a 1727 oil painting by Francesco de Mura, an Italian artist associated with the late-Baroque period. It is a religious work held in the Walters Art Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a grieving woman, dressed in blue and white, cradling a limp male figure wearing a loincloth, with a visible wound on his side. The scene is set against a somber, cloudy sky, evoking a sense of sorrow and loss.
Technique & Style
Rendered in the Rococo style, the work showcases de Mura's use of oil paint to convey emotion and texture. The figures are characterized by their expressive poses and attire, with attention to detail in the drapery and the rendering of the male figure's lifeless body.
History & Provenance
Created in 1727, Pietà is part of the Walters Art Museum's collection, indicating its significance within the history of art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco de Mura (21 April 1696 – 19 August 1782) was an Italian painter of the late-Baroque period, active mainly in Naples and Turin. His late work reflects the style of neoclassicism.
