Pietà

Bartolomeo Bonascia created this work around 1485 during the Early Renaissance period. The painting reflects the artistic traditions of its time and place, contributing to the rich tapestry of European painting that characterized the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries The Pietà—the Virgin holding the dead Christ—was a deeply affective devotional image originating in Northern Europe that spread through Italy, encouraging meditation on grief and sacrifice.

Tempera and oil on panel demonstrating the techniques characteristic of Early Renaissance painting. The work shows competent handling of its subject matter within established artistic conventions.