Who painted Pietà with Saint John?

Pietà with Saint John was painted by German 15th Century in 1468.

Where can I see Pietà with Saint John?

Pietà with Saint John is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Pietà with Saint John?

Pietà with Saint John is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Pietà with Saint John

German 15th Century , 1468

Pietà with Saint John is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1468 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1468, this German woodcut depicts a variation of the Pietà, a subject traditionally associated with sculpture but here rendered in print.

Created in 1468, this German woodcut depicts a variation of the Pietà, a subject traditionally associated with sculpture but here rendered in print. The work illustrates the mourning of Jesus Christ following his descent from the cross, though it expands the standard iconography by including Saint John the Evangelist. The composition features the lifeless body of Christ lying on the ground, attended by a kneeling figure in a red robe who holds his hand, while a third figure, distinguished by a yellow halo and long robe, stands behind them.

The scene is set in a sparse outdoor environment marked by a tree with green leaves and a ladder in the background, elements that allude to the crucifixion site. Executed as a woodcut in brown ink, the image is hand-colored with red, green, tan, yellow, and black pigments. The application of color is flat, emphasizing the graphic nature of the medium rather than modeling three-dimensional form.

This piece represents the adaptation of a major devotional theme to the emerging technology of printmaking in the late 15th century, making the emotional weight of the Passion accessible to a broader audience through a portable, mass-produced format.