Who painted The Pietà?

The Pietà was painted by German 15th Century in 1475.

Where can I see The Pietà?

The Pietà is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Pietà?

The Pietà is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Pietà

German 15th Century , 1475

The Pietà is a paint print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1475 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a metalcut print that has been hand‑colored in a limited palette of green, light rose and yellow.

About this work

Overview

The work is a metalcut print that has been hand‑colored in a limited palette of green, light rose and yellow. It presents a traditional Pietà composition, with the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Christ. The image is modest in scale and color, emphasizing the solemnity of the scene through restrained visual elements.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is Mary, shown holding the lifeless Jesus, a motif that underscores themes of sorrow, compassion and redemption. By focusing on the intimate contact between mother and son, the print invites contemplation of the human dimensions of the Passion, a common devotional focus in late medieval and early Renaissance art.

Technique & Style

Created by cutting the design into a metal plate, the artist produced the image through a printmaking process that allowed fine line work. After printing, the surface was hand‑colored with pigments in green, light rose and yellow, adding subtle tonal variation. The use of light and shadow suggests an early application of chiaroscuro, lending a sense of depth to the otherwise flat composition.

History & Provenance

The print’s exact origin and date are not recorded, but metalcut prints of religious subjects were popular in the 15th and 16th centuries, especially in Central Europe. Its survival in hand‑colored condition indicates careful preservation, though details of previous owners or institutional collections remain undocumented.