Pietà
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
41.9 × 58.4 × 34.3 cm (16 1/2 × 23 × 13 1/2 in.)
Classification
statuette
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
87458
Art Historical Context
This poignant terracotta *Pietà* from the workshop of Massimiliano Sold-Benzi, dated between 1700 and1800, captures the timeless Christian motif of the Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body of Christ. Soldani-Benzi, a Florentine sculptor active in the late Baroque era, was renowned for his intricate bronze works and lively terracotta models. Produced in his workshop, this statuette exemplifies the collaborative spirit of 18th-century Italian ateliers, where apprentices honed skills under master guidance. Crafted from terracotta—a versatile, fired clay medium favored for its malleability— the...