This is the most thorough and revealing study ever of one of Michelangelo's most beautiful, dramatic, and debated works of art: the Florence Pietà. The artist designed the monumental statue late in life for his own tomb, but after a decade of intermittent labor he badly damaged the work, which was later repaired by an assistant. Jack Wasserman, the book's editor and main author, enlists the expertise of scholars Timothy Verdon and Franca Trinchieri Camiz, sculptor Peter Rockwell, and three teams of scientists to understand a work of extraordinary emotional power. By examining all aspects of the statue's depiction of Christ and of his physical relationship to the other figures, especially the Virgin, this book brings to life Michelangelo's great struggle to give conclusive form to his own relationship to God--a relationship unmistakably reflected in the artist's representation of himself as the bearded man supporting Christ.
Through an unprecedented multidisciplinary approach that combines technical, historical, archival, and interpretive analysis, the book clarifies and revises the history of the Pietà from its inception to its reception through the centuries. For the first time ever, a computer-generated virtual model is used to study a major work of art by revealing previously unimaginable detail and perspectives, including the extent of the initial repairs and subsequent alterations made to the sculpture. Numerous illustrations reveal the Pietà in rich detail and an accompanying CD-ROM provides access to the digital imagery while expanding the book's technical and scientific content.
Wasserman reaches a striking conclusion about why Michelangelo mutilated the statue, a conclusion sure to inspire lively debate. He seeks to resolve a host of other questions such as: What religious message did Michelangelo seek to convey? Is the Pietà a "pietà" at all? As all lovers of art will appreciate, this book, by providing a fresh, systematic, and comprehensive investigation of this magnificent work, represents a vital key to understanding Michelangelo's entire oeuvre.
"This is the kind of book every art historian wishes were available on every work of art, major or minor: an in-depth study complete with essays on specific problems by specialists. The development of a virtual model of the statue is a major contribution. Beyond paving the way for future studies devoted to a single complex work, this book also provides the general reader with a most useful introduction to a powerful and unforgettable work by a famous sculptor."--David Wilkins, University of Pittsburgh
