The Pietà: the Virgin standing over the dead Christ, her hands outspread (ca. 1515–17, Met-Objekt 5708)
Original title: The Pietà: the Virgin standing over the dead Christ, her hands outspread
kurzbeschreibung
Marcantonio Raimondi made this Pietà around 1515–17 as an engraving; it belongs to his Roman years and shows Mary grieving over the dead Christ. The print tells of her sorrow and of the son's devotion.
Description
Mary rises at the center above Christ, who rests on a stone block; her arms are open. A mantle and halo surround her, and her face bears the marks of grief. Christ's body is bare except for a cloth around the hips; his head is turned to the left, his eyelids closed. Trees and a clouded sky close off the back and heighten the lament. The layout feels balanced and nearly mirror-like; delicate lines and gradations give structure to fabric and nature.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian engraver of the Renaissance, won fame above all through reproductions after Raphael. This sheet was made while he was working in Rome and producing religious motifs for a growing market in devotional images. It probably goes back to a drawing or painting from Raphael's circle—a process typical of Raimondi's working method. The years around 1515–17 belong to his most productive phase.
Impact
Mary's expressive lament and the quiet, painful presence of the dead Christ give the print an urgent emotional tension. The symmetrical arrangement and careful linework create a calm, sustained mood that invites lingering.
Technique
For engraving, the motif is cut into a copper plate and then printed on paper. Light and shadow arise from the density and depth of the lines, which bring out the folds of drapery, the bodies and the landscape in relief. In the execution, Raimondi's sure hand with garment folds and natural details becomes apparent.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)