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Michelangelo Pieta

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Michelangelo Pieta
Evan O'Meara
September 18, 2012
Humanities Seminar WF 11:30
Prof. Lomanno

The Beauty of Pietá

Michelangelo Buonarroti is one of the most critically acclaimed artists in human history. His artwork was created during the time of the Renaissance (15th century-17th century Europe). The Renaissance was a period of prosperity for literature, philosophy, art, music, politics, science, religion, as well as other aspects of intellectual inquiry. Michelangelo’s works have stood the test of time and are still available to the public eye today. Of all Michelangelo’s masterpieces the Pietá stands out from the rest. This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus in the arms of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion. It is an important work as it balances the Renaissance ideals of classical beauty with naturalism. The statue is one of, if not the most beautiful works of art by Michelangelo
Michelangelo’s Pietá is his most beautiful piece of art in my eyes. I have never seen a sculpture with such intricate detail in my entire life. Michelangelo is famous for sculpting every muscle, tendon, and vein on the human body with unfathomable exactitude, as he does with the Pietá. The detail makes this sculpture beautiful because I have never seen anything like it. The sculpture almost looks too perfect. I cannot marvel how the hand of Michelangelo in such a short period of time produced such divine work. I cannot understand how one can just take a block of marble and have the Pietá as a finished product. It almost seems impossible, but that is what makes it beautiful.
Another element of this sculpture that I find beautiful is the way Michelangelo sculpted the Virgin Mary’s robe. It almost seems as if her clothes are not made of marble. Every crease in her robe is sculpted with such precision and detail. I do not know where Michelangelo found the patience to complete this piece. What most people could not achieve in a lifetime Michelangelo achieved in a year. He created a

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