Pietà

painting by Sebastiano del Piombo

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July 1, 2026

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Sebastiano del Piombo, an Italian painter, created the Pietà around 1517. This work was executed based on drawings and cartoons by Michelangelo, who believed he could elevate Sebastiano's draftsmanship to make him Rome's foremost painter.1

The Pietà is a subject in Christian art depicting Christ after his death, supported by his mother, the Virgin Mary. Often, other figures like Mary Magdalene are included. Sebastiano's Roman works, including the Pietà, blended the vibrant colors of the Venetian school with the anatomical precision and strong forms influenced by his association with Michelangelo.21

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Sebastiano del Piombo
…executed his best-known work, the Pietà (c. 1517), as well as Flagellation (1516–24) and The Raising of Lazarus (1519). Michelangelo’s opinion of him was so high that he thought by correcting his rather dull draftsmanship, he could make Sebastiano the best painter in Rome. In his Roman work Sebastiano combined…
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…executed his best-known work, the Pietà (c. 1517), as well as Flagellation (1516–24) and The Raising of Lazarus (1519). Michelangelo’s opinion of him was so high that he thought by correcting his rather dull draftsmanship, he could make Sebastiano the best painter in Rome. In his Roman work Sebastiano combined…
Read More