Pietà
Antonio da Viterbo
Italian, active 1478–1509

Details
Title
Pietà
Artist/Maker
Antonio da Viterbo (Italian, active 1478–1509)
Date
ca. 1505
Medium
Tempera on panel
Dimensions
11 5/8 x 17 inches
Credit
Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation
Accession #
58.50
Antonio da Viterbo was influenced by both Perugino and Pintoricchio. His style is evident in this painting through the use of bulky drapery, the vague modeling of the figures, and the opaque highlights on their lips and noses. The forms are carefully outlined and precise accents have been applied over flatly painted forms. The dead Christ sits on the sepulcher as the Madonna and Saint John sustain him in preparation for his burial. Three women surround them, which follows the description of the event from the Scriptures (Mark 15:40).