Pietà (Lamentation)
Unknown Artist
early 16th century
Medium
Wood, paint and gilding
Dimensions
Overall: 63 3/4 x 55 3/16 x 6in. (161.9 x 140.2 x 15.2cm) Overall: 197lb. (89.4kg)
Classification
Sculpture-Wood
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of two Trustees, 1905
Accession Number
05.21
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Medieval Art galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of, this poignant *Pietà (Lamentation)* early 16th-century France captures a timeless moment of grief. Carved from wood and adorned with vibrant paint and shimmering gilding, the sculpture measures an imposing 63 3/4 x 55 3/16 inches and weighs nearly 200 pounds, suggesting it once graced a church altar or chapel. At its heart, the lifeless body of Christ is tenderly cradled by the Virgin, with Saint John and Mary Magdalene mourning nearby—a classic devotional scene evoking deep empathy and spiritual reflection. Crafted by an un...