MICHELANGELO Buonarroti
(b. 1475, Caprese, d. 1564, Roma)

Pietà

c. 1550
Marble, height 226 cm
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence

Without being commissioned to do so, Michelangelo worked on depictions of the Pietà. In a moment of despair, the artist struck off the left arm and leg of Christ. His pupil, Tiberio Calcagni (1532-1565) continued the work, completed Mary Magdalene, restored the missing arm and prepared a replacement for the leg, as shown by the groove on the base. After Calcagni's death, work was never resumed on the group. Michelangelo gave it to his servant Antonio in 1561.