Pietà

Cleveland Museum of Art

A drawing on aged paper depicting the Pietà, a scene of the Virgin Mary holding the body of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion. The drawing is rendered in a simple line style with minimal shading. The Virgin Mary sits on a block-like seat. She wears a long, flowing robe; a red undergarment; and a circular gold halo with a red outline. Her long hair falls over her shoulders; her bangs cut straight across her forehead. The body of Christ lies across her lap; his head on her right shoulder; one leg bent; one leg straight. Christ has a short beard and mustache; and a long, circular gold halo with a red outline. His body is covered in blood; has minimal clothing; and his eyes closed. A wooden beam with a green rope on its left side traverses the upper portion. The background of the aged paper is beige; its edges rough and tattered. The style of drawing could be described as naïve art or folk art, by Albrecht Dürer.