The Pieta appears
to have originated in Germany
(where it is known as the Vesperbild) during the mid to late 13th century
era of Gothic art (although
equally early examples have been found in Spain
and in Orthodox churches in Russia).
It then spread to Italy
in time for the Early Renaissance (c.1400-90), although it was not in widespread use
as a form of religious art.
Several
writers, such as St. Bonaventure, St. Bridget of Sweden,
and St. Bernardino of Siena,
imagined Mary’s thoughts as she held her dead Son. It wasn’t long before
artists began to visualize these new devotional trends. The early Pietas were mostly sculptures done
in stone, though sometimes wood. All of
these Pietàs were devotional images and were intended as a focal point for
contemplation and prayer. Even though the statues are horrific, the intent was
to show that God and Mary, divine figures, were sympathetic to human suffering,
and to the pain, and loss experienced by medieval viewers.
Images:
Top- German- 1420
Bottom: Kathe Kollwitz- 1932
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