Only Michelangelo could have captured the nuances in stone of this poignant moment, where a mother perceives the broken body of her emaciated son with such empathetic compassion.
What did I see?
I sensed, rather than saw, the indescribable beauty of the anguished Mother, as Michelangelo chose to portray Mary as well as the limp, skeletal body of Jesus. Michelangelo depicted Jesus as serene and peaceful to convey the theme of divine sacrifice and maternal love rather than the physical gruesomeness of the crucifixion.
Finally, I observed the voluminous, flowing robes Michelangelo sculpted for Mary, perceptually to hold the larger Jesus on her frail lap. Michelangelo balanced every detail to enhance the emotional resonance of the scene, thus making his Pietà a standout contribution to Renaissance art.
